"Will Unsaved Loved Ones Have A Second Chance To be Saved During The 7 Year Tribulation" (Video On Current Events) - Inspirational Weekend

My above photograph depicts a quiet, woodland place of rest and peace; a small glimpse of refuge in the "paradise" of Hawaii.  Although beautiful and breathtaking scenery is to be found there, Hawaii is far from a true paradise, of course, because of sin and fallen men.   Believers long for the time when they will be in their true home  - heaven - with the good Lord. 

Hang in there !  The return of Jesus is imminent....right at the very door, and it will happen soon according to how Bible prophecy is being played out as we speak now in these last days.  Many
precursors to Bible prophecy are already in place, waiting to be fulfilled.

Many true believers who realize the time of the Rapture of the
Church (true believers) to Heaven with Jesus is ever so near are concerned about unsaved loved ones who will face enduring the 7 year Tribulation.  They wonder if these relatives and others will have a second chance and can be saved during the horrors of the Tribulation period. 

Some scholars believe that once a person is in the Tribulation, meaning of course they were not saved and were "left behind" when the Rapture occurred,  ...these scholars believe there is absolutely no second chance to be saved during the dreaded tribulation.  No where in the Bible does it say this !

Let us go to God's Holy Word for answers.

Revelation 7:9, 14 b tells us (9) "After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne,, and before the Lamb [Jesus] , clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  .....  (14b) ......  These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

The above verses are proof that there will be tribulation saints who are martyred by the antichrist and his followers because of their faith in Jesus and their evangelizing, and their refusal to take the Mark of the Beast.  The Tribulation period will be a time of much persecution for these believers. 

The Tribulation saints will hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ from many sources.  In the beginning, there may still be Bibles available for them to read and study and discover the many prophecies therein that predicted the times and signs they are experiencing.  And don't forget about the two witnesses who will prophesy for 1,260 days, and speak the Gospel message  (Revelation 11:1-13).

Do not forget about the 144,000 Jewish believers in Jesus, and who are sealed by God during the Great Tribulation.  They will be preaching the Gospel during the Trib.   (Revelation 7:3-8 and Revelation 14:1-5).

An angel will also proclaim the Gospel during this time of Jacob's trouble.  He will fly in mid-heaven crying out with the Good News.

Revelation 14:6-7 explains:  (6)  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.  (7)  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come:  and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

Another thing to consider is the fact that during the Trib.  many people are being beheaded for their faith, which proves, obviously, that many come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and are truly saved during this end time Tribulation.

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither  his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."   -   Revelation 20:4

How merciful and loving and patient is the good Lord to give second chances ! 

So yes, your loved ones may still come to faith in Jesus and be saved during this 7 year period of great trial and judgments !   In the meantime, continue to pray for them to come with all their heart and all their very being to the cleansing power of Jesus; the Savior of souls; the Redeemer.  Be a good witness of the faith, so that they will see a reflection of Jesus in you and in your faithful walk with Him.   They will come to desire what you have, a saving and close personal relationship with the good Lord.

Following is a recent Middle East Update (March 1, 2019)  by Amir Tsarfati which is very informative and timely.  It is 51 minutes in length, but please believe you will be so interested in what he has to say, that you will not mind the 51 minutes.   Amir also touches on the subject of will unbelievers who miss the Rapture of the Church be able to be saved during the 7 year Tribulation.  He also discusses the situation with Iran and Syria, and the recent Putin and Netanyahu meeting and much more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZrvOTbum-0&t=4s


What if you are reading this and you have never surrendered your life to Jesus; never been saved; never been born again? 

"(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

Do not delay in surrendering to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Have complete faith in Him as the Savior, believing in Him with all of your heart, and believing that only He can wash you clean from sin
and give you life eternal..... Just believe in Him. 

Jesus is waiting to hear from you. 

He will welcome you with open arms of forgiveness and embrace you with His love.

You need to repent and ask for forgiveness, and turn from a life of sin and rebellion against God, never to go back to your old sinful and selfish lifestyle. 


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."

"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

"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


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

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

"To Live And To Die" (Video) - Inspirational Weekend

The title of this post, "To Live And To Die", sounds like the information here is morbid and doom and gloom.   I promise you that is not the case! Let me quote a wonderful Scripture found at Philippians 1:21 :

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

This was written by the apostle Paul.  His life found all its meaning in Christ, Who was his secret to continual joy.  This can also be the case with all true Christians who put Jesus first in their lives, and who live a godly life and thereby endeavor to imitate Him in their daily walk in love and obedience.  

"Jesus answered and said unto him,  If a man love me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."  -  John 14: 23

Many who read "to die is gain" in Philippians 1:21, concentrate on just that part of the verse and they think of being in heaven forever with the Lord.   All that is true,  but you need to be a born again believer, sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), in order to make it to heaven.  "To die is gain" refers to the fact that we will be with Christ after death; that is, if you are a true believer who has lived a life of obedience and faith in the good Lord.   Works do not save you; faith in Jesus is what saves you.  But a true believer will bring forth much fruit, and will obey and follow Jesus with a pure heart.

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."  -  James 2:26

True believers will endeavor to live a Christ-like life....to "live Christ."  Galatians 2:20 tells us:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

The above verse is the apostle Paul speaking again.  What faith he had !  What devotion and dedication he exhibited !  May we all be likewise!  

The thought behind "to me to live is Christ" is that we be so one with Christ that we do only His will, and continually have "the mind of Christ."  (1 Corinthians 2:16)

Keep in mind, also, that we are not only to "live Christ" but to bring Him glory as well.  Praise Him and give Him glory in all we do and say.  Let our lives, our hearts, our minds, our actions, our speech, reflect  good things and give glory to God and Jesus in everything !

"To live is Christ" means that we will want to know more about the Lord and to take in as much knowledge of Him as possible.   To do that we need to read our Bibles daily, as well as to pray daily.   You get to know more about a person by communicating with him,  Do the same with the good Lord.  Develop a close, intimate, personal, love relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

If we are truly saved, we will also have the enthusiasm for preaching the gospel and for witnessing at every opportunity.  We may also have to give up anything that prevents us from serving the Lord.   Anything that takes up all of our time needs to be dealt with and eliminated in order to enable us to live for the Lord with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. 

We need to fix our eyes on Jesus.  Put Him first !

Following is a 4 minute worship song about to live is Christ:

All of the above does not apply to those who are unbelievers.  But look up, folks! Jesus loves you and is waiting to hear from you! All you need to do is to repent of your sins and do not live a life of sin any more, pray for forgiveness, and sincerely dedicate your whole life to the Lord as you turn to Him in faith and trust.  Believe Jesus is the Savior and that His shed blood at Calvary will wash your sins away.   Believe also in His resurrection.  All of this takes faith on your part.  It is that faith that will save you where you may live for Christ and have the hope of eternal life.

Do not delay !

We all want to live forever !   Let it be with the Lord in heaven !

Jesus gives us hope, a glorious future, a purpose in life right now, (to serve Him and to be a light and witness bearer).

Wouldn't you rather be in eternity where there is no more sin, no more death, and no more sorrow?  -  Revelation 21:4

This old earth is passing away soon!  -  1 John 2:17

Jesus is eternal and you can be as well !

There is hope !

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."  -  1 John 2:17

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."

"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

"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

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

"Don't Fret; Be Happy" (With Videos) - Inspirational Weekend

The above horses on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, look contented and happy.  It made me feel good and downright happy to photograph them the day I was there.  

Some have said that happiness is temporary and fleeting while true joy is from the Lord and is forever.   The truth is, both joy and happiness are very similar in meaning and the Bible gives no such distinction between the two words, as well as the similar word rejoice.   It depends on which translation you have, but the Bible uses the words happy and happiness about 30 times;  but joy and rejoice are found in God's word over 300 times.

As I was thinking about writing on happiness for this weekend, that old song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" popped into my mind and I can't seem to shake it.  You can find the full version of the song on You Tube, but here is a fun version which is a short one minute cartoon-type clip of it:

"If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world."  -  David Brainerd  

"Success is getting what you want.  Happiness wants what you get."   -  Woodrow Kroll

"Happy the soul that has been awed by a view of God's majesty."   -  A. W. Pink

We all know that true happiness does not come from worldly pleasures and selfish ambition and selfish lifestyles that are also full of the ungodly world's poisons.  Those things do not fill the void in our hearts that only the good Lord Himself can fill, Who can thereby give you true joy and a purpose for living.  And, I might add, a wonderful hope for an eternity in bliss and joyfulness.

Having such a hope for an eternity with the Lord is plenty of reason to be happy right now in this imperfect world we live in.  When you are a born again believer, you are sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), which enables you to obey and follow Jesus and to build a strong relationship with God.   You will be happy when you read and study His Holy Word and when you spend much time in prayer, building a strong relationship with the heavenly Father through Jesus Christ His Son.   You will, in time, grow to spiritual maturity and be even more effective in your walk with Him and in service to others; in particular, to obey the Great Commission found at Matthew 28:19, 20.  All of that will make you happy because you know you will be pleasing God.   It will put a song in your heart, and make your worship more intense and more personal; more devoted and more reverent.  

"I sing because I'm happy" is a repeated phrase in the hymn "His Eye is on the Sparrow" which follows:

In the above song, the lyrics also say that because God takes note of the sparrow, we know He watches over His children as well.  That is enough to make anyone happy and grateful, to know the Lord is watching over us and taking care of us and guiding and teaching and protecting us.

"I believe that the happiest of all Christians and the truest of Christians are those who never dare to doubt God, but take His Word simply as it stands, and believe it, and ask no questions, just feeling assured that if God has said it, it will be so."   -    Charles Spurgeon   

Happiness can be found in admiring the Creator's handiwork on this beautiful earth; it can also be found in simple pleasures and in the love of family and friends.  But true happiness comes from the Holy Spirit of God, which enables you to obey and serve the Lord with joy and with much gratefulness. 

Our salvation itself is a source of joy !  

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."  -  Psalm 16:11

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."    -  Romans 15:13

"And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost."   -  1 Thessalonians 1:6

The Scripture above reminds us that we may have afflictions and hardships, but we can still hold on to our joy with the help of the Holy Spirit.   We realize that trials and sickness and the like are but temporary, and soon we will be with the Lord forever and He will wipe away all of our tears and there will be no more crying or death or sorrow.  (Revelation 21:4).

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Joy is a gift from God.  

So be happy !!

God's people will be happy forever !

If you are not a believer, not born again, not sealed with the Holy Spirit, then you cannot experience true happiness and the joy of serving the Lord.  You will not know His love and forgiveness and His guidance and the hope He gives to all who turn to Him in repentance.

Stop and think !  By not turning to the Lord you are making a choice.....a choice to spend eternity in the wrong place - hell.   

Time is short!

Jesus will return soon to take all true believers to be with Him forever !   Wouldn't you rather be in heaven where there is no more pain, no more violence, no more evil, no more deceivers?

All you need to do is pray and ask for forgiveness, believe in Jesus as the Savior, believe in His resurrection, and believe that His shed blood on the cross can wash your sins away and wipe the slate clean......you are forgiven if you turn to Him in true repentance and belief. 

Jesus loves you and will welcome you with understanding and pardon.

He is waiting to hear from you.

Don't delay!


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."

"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

"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



I pray that you have a happy weekend.... and a happy Christ centered life.

"Comfort And Peace" - Inspirational Weekend

In contemplating the subject for this weekend's post I thought rather than Bible Prophecy, I would dwell on some quotes about comfort and peace.  There is so much violence and chaos in today's world (which, in itself, is a sign of the end times) that perhaps we would do well to contemplate some positive quotes from godly men as well as from the Bible itself.  In my quest to keep up with the signs of the times and the news today as it relates to Bible prophecy, it makes me depressed to see how much distress and evil itself is prevalent in today's mixed up world.  When the world situation affects my mind and disturbs me, the best thing I can do is to take it to the Lord in prayer and also to read His Holy Word.  It does me good to dwell on Scriptures and quotes that stress how there is still hope if you are a true believer in and a follower of Jesus.  Christians know how things will turn out in the end for the Bible tells us that God wins !   He wins the war over the devil and unregenerate mankind. The Lord will usher in a New Heavens and a New Earth  (Revelation 21:1) filled with peace and happiness, or should I say, filled with joy; for true joy comes only from the Heavenly Father.  Happiness depends on temporary, earthly happenings that bring you temporary pleasure.

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."  -  1 Peter 5:7    

"In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ.  You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father.  Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that "underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength."  -  Oswald Chambers   

"Comfort ye, comfort ye, saith your God."  -  Isaiah 40:1

"Great comforts do, indeed, bear witness to the truth of Thy grace, but not to the degree of it; the weak child is oftener in the lap than the strong one."  -  William Gurnall

Do not hesitate to cast all your cares and burdens on the Lord; go to Him as often as need be; find comfort and love and peace in His Presence.  He will never hurl a true believer from His Presence. (John 6:37). One Scripture that has brought me much comfort and given me peace is Hebrews 13:5b  :  "for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  With the Lord by your side, you will be able to face adversities and to be strong.  If fear visits you, cast it away in the assurance that you "can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you."   (Philippians 4:13).   This takes faith.

"Assurance is the fruit that grows out of the root of faith."  -  Stephen Charnock

"Prayer crowns God with the honor and glory due to His name, and God crowns prayer with assurance and comfort.  The most praying souls are the most assured souls."  -  Thomas Brooks

"Faith means trusting in advance what only makes sense in reverse."  -  Philip Yancey   

There is just one important thing: in order to have God's Presence and to be assured of His protection and love and of eternal life, you need to be born-again.  Spirit born, that is.   You need to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and King and Master.   To do this, you first need to recognize your need of a Savior and to repent of all known sin; ask God to forgive you and truly believe that Jesus' death at Calvary and His shed blood can wash away your sins.   You must be sincere and from your very heart believe in Jesus and in His resurrection.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."  - John 3:3

"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.  (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  -  Romans 10:9,13

Marc Wolfe has said, "Living a Christless life is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic."  You are doomed to eternity in hell if you do not accept Jesus as your Savior.  (John 14:6). If you are an unbeliever and still here and live to see the soon to happen 7-year Tribulation, you will suffer through much pain and wrath and horror the likes of which has never been seen on earth before.   

When you give your life and heart and soul to Jesus Christ, you will have peace in your soul and will be able to experience a close, personal, intimate relationship with Him.  That is what we are called to do.

Live for the Lord.

Be in constant fellowship with Him.

Don't delay !

"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:"   -  Isaiah 55:6

"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

"All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."   -  John 6:37

"It Is Later Than You Think" - Inspirational Weekend

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

"Fear Not; God Will Save And Deliver You" - Inspirational Weekend

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  

Have a wonderful and Christ-centered weekend !

"The Power And The Hope - Resurrection Sunday" - Inspirational Weekend

There is no greater story than that of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection 2000 years ago.  He died to pay the penalty for our sins so that we are redeemed by His shed blood at Calvary; and His resurrection gives us the assurance that we too will be resurrected to life for eternity with Him if we believe in Jesus as our Savior and believe in His resurrection (Romans 10:9-10,13).   

"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

What a wonderful hope!  Christians are familiar with the Scriptures I will quote here and will hear a sermon this Sunday on the resurrection.   This post is also to give lost sinners who may be reading a reason to hope, a reason to live, and a purpose to their lives.   Without faith in Jesus and in the resurrection, things are hopeless for lost souls.   Without Jesus, a dark judgment awaits sinners.  We all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and deserve punishment.  But Jesus.  Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins (Romans 5:8).  If we repent and confess our sins and live godly lives and put our faith in Christ, there is hope and a sure reason to look forward to being forever with the Lord.

Someone has said, "When Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr, or the blood of one man for another;  it was the life of God poured out to redeem the world."

When you think about it, Christ's resurrection should be celebrated every day.   Without the resurrection of Jesus, there would be no Christianity!  The resurrection gives life to every other area of the gospel truth.   

Be careful that it is not just head knowledge speaking when you say you believe that Jesus rose from the dead; you need to make sure it is coming from the depths of your heart, a true conviction of the reality of the resurrection.   Remember, God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

How grateful we should be, and how we should thank and praise the Lord for the gift of eternal life, and for a Savior who died so that we may live.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."      -  1 Peter 1:3

"Every single shred of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is also evidence for my eventual resurrection."  -  Lee Strobel

Following is a beautiful resurrection hymn:

I pray your focus this Resurrection Sunday is on Jesus and His great love for you and how His rising from the dead shows the hope He gives for all true believers.  (John 3:16)

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  -  Romans 5:8

"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."  -  Philippians 3:10-11

"The Power of Faith, Hope, And Love" - Inspirational Weekend

Faith, hope and love are often found together in the New Testament. One instance is at 1 Thessalonians 1:3 which tells us,

"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;"

Below is an example and explanation of what the triad faith, hope, and love actually mean.

Let's take faith first.  The power of faith produces action.  The Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God  (Hebrews 11:6).  A brand new believer in Jesus as Savior exhibits faith that the Lord is the Messiah and his Redeemer.  As he studies God's Word and is often in prayer, his faith will grow.  Answered prayer is a mighty faith builder.   Belief that we will be with the Lord in heaven one day also takes faith.   

The patriarch Abraham was saved by his faith, not by his works. Romans 4:3 says, "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness."    He followed and obeyed God when the Lord told him to leave his country and go to a land He would show him.  (Hebrews 11:8).  That took faith. What took much faith was when God told Abraham to sacrifice his own son Isaac and Abraham obeyed, but the Lord stopped him from actually killing Isaac.  God was putting Abraham to the test so He could see how strong was Abraham's faith.   

Yes, there is power in faith.  There are many more examples in the Bible of the transforming power of faith, such as Moses and Gideon.   

Then there is the power of hope.   I have shared here previously about how I went through difficult times for a period of about 4 years, and all seemed hopeless to me for a while.   But God.   He put it within my heart to begin reading the Bible again, which began to renew my mind.  I know first-hand the power of hope, because His Word began to give me a hope for something better. Without hope, there appears to be no reason to exist.  You see, without God there is no hope.  The only sound and just object of hope is God Himself.  The hope that Jesus gives and the promises of God can give meaning to your life, can give you a purpose, and a desire to keep-on-keeping-on despite obstacles.     The ultimate hope is one of eternal life with the Lord in heaven.  

"(18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:  (19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail; "  -  Hebrews 6:18-19

You can observe, then, that hope is not whimsical wishful thinking.  When we hope in God, we can rest assured that it is a reliable and true thing.  HE is called the God of hope.

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."   -  Romans 15:13

Now let us consider love.  The most famous and most loved chapter in the Bible about love is 1 Corinthians 13.  Following are the first 3 verses of that chapter:

"(1)Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have no charity, I am nothing. (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

The King James version uses the word "charity" instead of the more appropriate word "love" in the above verses.   The point is obvious: you can do many mighty works and good deeds, but if you do not have love and act out of love, it is to no avail.  Love is above all other gifts....it is preeminent.  (1 Corinthians 13:13).  We should love God and other people more than we love ourselves.   

That brings us to the important fact that God loves us.  

God is love.

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.  God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."  -  1 John 4:16

Following is a sermon by Charles Spurgeon on how much Jesus loves us. 

Jesus loved us so much that he suffered and died for us and shed His blood at Calvary so that all who would believe in Him and His resurrection could have eternal life.   Even when we fall or backslide, Jesus still loves us and is patient with us and willing to forgive us.   We need to repent of and confess all known sin and run to Him for refuge and solace.

"But the God of all grace, Who hath called us into His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."  -  1 Peter 5:10

"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father"     -  Galatians 1:3-4

Prophetic Times - 2017 Paris Conference And The Presidential Inauguration (With Video By Amir Tsarfati)

What exciting and prophetic times we are living in right now !  Bible prophecy is being fulfilled almost daily.  We need to pay particular attention to the nation of Israel and the current events in all of the Middle East.   As I stated previously, Israel is God's prophetic time clock.  The Jewish nation is the apple of God's eye (Zechariah 2:8) ,    I wrote here earlier this month about the UN Resolution 2334 which divides the land of Israel; land which God Himself gave to the Jewish people.  I will not repeat that information again here, except to say that the recent 2017 Peace Conference in Paris did not make any new demands or impose a definite new state of Palestine this past Sunday.   Whew !   It looks as if we - and Israel - have a reprieve for now.   More information about the January 15 Peace Conference may be found here.

Following is a video and prophecy update by Israeli Christian Amir Tsarfati concerning the Paris Conference and the future of Jerusalem.  It is Biblically sound information and he quotes the Bible extensively.

In this video, Mr. Tsarfati says that as long as we Christians are here our job is to spread God's Word and to be on our knees in prayer.  The Holy Spirit within us acts as a restrainer to the evil and God answers our prayers for help against wickedness   Mr. Tsarfati also says that Jerusalem will not be divided as long as Christians are still on this earth.   That means we are extremely close to the Rapture of the Church because of all the uproar now about dividing the land of Israel and other prophecies that are presently taking place before our very eyes.  I urge you to watch the entire above video.

We in America are facing perhaps a civil war, and definitely much civil unrest.  The Presidential Inauguration takes place this coming Friday, and it is a fact that many thousands of protesters are expected to be there and the good Lord only knows what damage they will do.   We need to pray for Donald Trump and for America.  

Remember, where Bible prophecy is concerned, things are not falling apart but instead are coming together.  What you see happening today is prophesied in the Bible.   God is in charge and is in control.  Christians need not fear these perilous times.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee."    -  Isaiah 26:3

Psalms 46:1-2  tells us :  (1) "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (2) Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;"

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."        -           2 Timothy 1:7

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; "  -  1 Peter 1:13

"Give God The Eraser" - Inspirational Weekend

Someone once said, "Write your plans in pencil, but give God the eraser."  This is so true, as only the good Lord knows what the future holds; and also because life is so precarious and risky and uncertain.  We do not even know what the next day may hold, or even the very next hour.  We could make all kinds of grandiose plans for the next day, only to find ourselves in a terrible accident and then handicapped; or we could die before our next breath.   Yet man is notorious for making plans and ignoring God in the process.   I realize we have to have goals in life and to prepare for the future as much as possible, but we need to plan with the knowledge that everything we work for could be taken away at any moment.  We need to put our trust in God and seek His will.  First !

God is in charge !

This all reminds me of James 4:14 , but I will also quote here verses 13 through 16:

"(13) Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow: for what is your life?  It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  (15) For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. (16) But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil."

Verse 14 above tells us that life is like a vapor..... a mist, always fleeting, and then fades away. Vanishes. No one can depend on or calculate on the "permanence" of a vapor.  Something as evanescent as a vapor cannot be depended upon and cannot last.   We all have seen a morning mist or ground fog and watched it disappear as the sun rose in the sky.  The vapor or mist simply vanishes with no trace remaining; no outline or anything that will remind us that it ever existed.

"As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more."  -  Psalm 103:15-16

"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.  The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:"  -  1 Peter 1:24

This post is meant to uplift you, but the Scriptures quoted here tell us how frail and transitory life really is.  Which points us to the fact that we need to have a hope beyond what this life on earth holds.  A glorious hope for eternal life with the Lord in heaven !!  So many people live life on earth as if this is all there is; as if there is no hereafter once you die.   "Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die" type of mentality.   True believers know better.  This life on earth is a test. A schoolhouse to prepare us for our future with God and Jesus.   It took me a long time to realize that truth; the Bible taught me that, but for many years I did not study God's Word.  I seldom if ever prayed.  I thank the good Lord that He opened my spiritual eyes and my heart to truly embrace the Gospel and Jesus Christ and to have a close relationship with Him.   

In these perilous times in which we live - these last of the last days -  we need to hang on to the hope and promises of God and Jesus.  If we don't, we will be depressed and feel like there is no hope.  But true believers know that with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).   Give your heart and mind and soul to Jesus Christ in faith.  Repent of your sins and confess them to God and ask Jesus to come into your heart.   Time is short before the Rapture to heaven of true believers.   

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  -  Philippians 4:7

"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 speaking at John 14:27

Where Is Your Hope ? In Men Or In God? (In View Of America's Recent Election)

In light of the recent election in America, how does it all fit with Bible prophecy and the end times?  My mind is crammed full of so much information, that I hardly know where to begin; yet at the same time I will try to abbreviate it all somewhat.   I purposely do not delve into politics on this blog, but you have to admit this election was a bit miraculous in many ways.   Some are saying that Donald Trump is our modern day Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-2; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23) and that Trump fulfills prophecy in other ways as well .  I will not go there about Trump, but the Bible tells us that in the last days before the Rapture of the Church, (true followers of Jesus), that things will be normal in the sense that people will be marrying and carrying on business as usual when Jesus returns for His Bride, the Church.

"And as it was in the days of Noe (Noah), so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."  -  Jesus speaking at Luke 17::26-30 .  See also Matthew 24:37-39.  

The Son of man in these verses is, of course, referring to Jesus Christ.  In Zechariah 12:3 it states that, regarding Israel, that all the nations of the world will be against the tiny country of Israel.   Donald Trump, however, is saying he will be friends with Israel.  That does not fit Bible prophecy.   Jan Markell has written an article titled, "So Is The Rapture Now On Hold?" which you can read here.   She states at the end of the article that the Rapture is not delayed.   However, American politics will not affect God's plans in any way whatsoever.  He may, though, use this country's politics to bring His plans to pass.    God is in charge !

The globalists are already trying to change things by taking a recount of the votes in order to make it look as if Clinton won, so they can work towards their New World Order ....One World Government, One World Economy, and One World Religion, in order to control the masses.   As you know, Trump is acting independently of the Elites and is his own man.   Unfortunately, he is terribly outnumbered.  We need to pray for him and also pray for America.  We desperately need to pray for ourselves as to what lies ahead, and also for God to intervene in order to help us gain lost souls to His kingdom before time runs out .....before the Rapture of true believers and the Tribulation period after that.

We need to look to the good Lord for help and direction and safety.  Have faith and trust in God, not men.

"Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help."  -  Psalm 146:3 .   In this verse the son of man is not referring to Jesus but to men in general.

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes."  -  Psalm 118:8-9

I intend to do another post soon concerning the One World Government and its economy and false religion.   In the meantime, you may want to read Revelation 13 concerning this New World Order.  The one world religion is described in Revelation 17 if you would like to read that as well.   It is my opinion that this new system will not occur until during the 7 year tribulation period, when the antichrist is revealed.  However, the foundation for the NWO has already been laid and is being implemented in ways even now,  Therefore, if this new world government and other prophesied events are soon to occur, that means the Rapture of the true believers is even closer.   We will be in heaven when all hell breaks loose upon the earth during the Tribulation.   

Keep watching for the Lord !  Live godly lives so that you will be among those raptured when Jesus returns.   But it is not your works that save you, it is faith and heartfelt belief in Jesus as your Savior and the belief in the fact that He was resurrrected that seals you as a child of God, with heaven as your future home.  

"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

"And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure."  - 1 John 3:3

"Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.;"  -  Titus 2: 12-13