Warning ! You Don't Want To Be There ! (With Videos)

Let's talk about the 7 seals of Revelation.  We will also watch two videos concerning these seals.  Pastor Billy Crone has written a new book on the subject, as well as making a DVD set available.  The 7 seals deal with the first half of the 7 year tribulation period.  Most people are of the belief that the first half of the Tribulation will not be so bad and that they can survive in their bunkers and eat their cases of "survival food " and will be able to protect themselves with no problem.   Wrong!  It is true, as Pastor Crone points out, that the first half of the Tribulation will not be as bad as the second half; however,  if you read the seal judgments  of the first 3 and a half years of this horrible time, you will realize that you do not want to be there for any of this time of tribulation, for the first half of it is horrific in itself.  Turn in your Bibles to Revelation chapters 5 and 6 for the first 6 seals, and then in chapter 8 of Revelation it mentions the 7th seal, which opens the trumpet judgments to follow.  

Following are two videos, each of which is 29 minutes in length, by prophecywatchers.com with host Gary Stearman  and Pastor Billy Crone discussing the seals. 

The seals of Revelation,  Part One:

The Seals of Revelation, Part Two:

You can discern clearly from watching these videos that both parts of the Tribulation will be filled with horror and violence like we have never witnessed.  As Pastor Crone says in the second video, "There will be a murderous spirit all over the planet."

You definitely do not want to be there..... during any part of the 7 year Tribulation.

If you are saved (born again) you will not have to endure any part of this wrath of God, because you will have been raptured with Christ's Bride (the church; true believers in Jesus) sometime prior to the Tribulation.  Knowing what you know, as believers, you ought to be busy sharing the gospel of Jesus with lost souls.   You do not want your worst enemy to have to face the tribulation period, as Pastor Crone says.  

If you are not saved, not a true believer in Jesus Christ as the Savior, knowing what lies ahead....not only the wrath of God in the Tribulation, but also your future of torments in hell, it should make you run to the good Lord in sorrow and repentance and ask Him for forgiveness.  You need to believe with all your being that Jesus is the Savior whose shed blood at Calvary can wash you clean and make you a child of God, if you only believe in Christ and surrender your will and your life to Him.

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."

Don't delay ! 

Jesus will return soon to take all true believers to heaven to be with Him.

Don't be left behind to face any part of the Tribulation.

He will forgive you and welcome  you with love and tenderness when you humble yourself and repent and come to Him in faith and belief.

"(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

"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

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."    -  John 3:36

The Future Is Not What It Used To Be (Bible Prophecy And Current Events) With Videos

Whoever said, "The future is not what it used to be", was very discerning.  Never before have so many Bible prophecies occurred all at one time like they are at the present time....a strong convergence here in these last days.   Jesus said that when we see "ALL"  of these end times signs appearing we would know that the end was near (Matthew 24:33).  Please read the entire chapter of Matthew 24.   

Here is a link to today's article by Jan Markell of olivetreeviews.org in which she discusses events of 2017 and the prophetic significance behind them.  She gives links to Scriptures as well as to various articles pertaining to the end times.

There is also a short 8 minute video included in her article.  If you have been keeping up with Israel and Syria and all the news concerning them, you know that the prophecy at Isaiah 17:1 will be fulfilled soon.... the fact that Damascus will be completely destroyed.  Jan mentions that as well as how Turkey's Erdogan has threatened to "wipe out all Jews" after the recent announcement by President Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.  Jan Markell discusses various other events that happened in 2017 and gives many links you will want to take notice of.   

Following is a video update on Jerusalem and other topics by Amir Tsarfati, whom I often include in my posts.  He has a thriving ministry and is a Jewish believer in the Messiah and he lives in Israel and speaks informatively on Middle East events.  He is also very informed about American affairs as well.  

Remember that Israel is God's prophetic time clock.  He has not forgotten His chosen people.  In fact, the entire  seven year Tribulation is for bringing the Jews to recognize Jesus as their Messiah.   Of course, God will also be pouring out His wrath upon the earth and on ungodly people left behind after the Rapture of the Church.  

Amir says that after many, many years of silence we are the generation to see numerous prophecies begin to unfold.   "God is in full control", Amir assures us, and to "get ready for our exodus."

Following are words from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of all who will but believe in Him and have faith in Him.

"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 following verses are also from Luke 21; verses 34 to 36:

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.  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."

"Bible Prophecy, God's Patience, And You" (With Video) - Inspirational Weekend

With the recent Hurricane Harvey and the present Hurricane Irma in the USA, many people are speculating that it is God's judgment upon America.  I will not venture an opinion except to say that hurricanes are just a fact of life here in America.  But it is true that God has used weather in Biblical times to punish the ancient peoples.

Many signs are coming to pass now that the Bible foretold by the prophets of old; or are in the process of coming true, in the beginning stages.   Take the War of Gog and Magog which is mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and 39.  The nations mentioned in those prophecies are now lining up against Israel and joining forces to soon come against Israel, God's covenant people.  As mentioned several times before on this blog, the nation of Israel is God's prophetic time clock.  I have written before about the Battle of Gog and Magog and in one instance I go into much detail, found here.

As to the exact timing of this war, there are many different views held by Bible scholars.   Some feel the battle takes place before the Rapture of the Church; some believe Gog and Magog happens early in the 7 year Tribulation; others say that it occurs after the Rapture but before the Tribulation.  There are several other opinions as well.   The point is, God knows when it will be; our job is to believe it by faith because God's Holy Word prophesied it, and also to use it as an evangelizing tool to win souls to the Lord.

Another prophecy, found in Isaiah 17, concerning Damascus, Syria, is about to be fulfilled.  Please read all of that chapter, but I will quote Isaiah 17:1, 

"The burden of Damascus, Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall become a ruinous heap."   Much of the area around Damascus has been destroyed already, but this prophecy emphatically states all of Damascus will totally be destroyed. Reading further in Isaiah 17, we see that its destruction comes by way of Israel.   

The above two prophecies are now about to happen at any time; preparations are taking place right now.   This is why Bible prophecy is such a wonderful evangelizing tool;  it proves the Bible is true and it creates an urgency for an unbeliever to accept Jesus as their Savior before it is too late to do so.  These events also encourage believers to "Look up, because your redemption draws nigh",   Luke 21:28.  It is an exciting time for Christians, knowing that the Lord will soon return to take them to be with Him in heaven.   

Following is a video on current events and Bible prophecy by Amir Tsarfati, who is a Jewish Christian with a thriving ministry based in Israel.  Amir mentions that North Korea is like a smokescreen to that which happens with Russia and Iran.  It is a very interesting update on current affairs.

Aren't you glad that God is patient !  I am.  I was slow to understand God's patience with me and how He was drawing me to Him by His forbearance.  I am filled with gratitude for His persistence in clearing the sawdust out of my mind and for giving me understanding of His Word and for drawing me to Him and to Jesus.   

"No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day."    -  Jesus at John 6:44

God was also patient with Adam and Eve when they sinned and even made clothes for them from animal skins.

The Lord showed extreme patience with the rebellious nation of Israel, who murmured against Him and were ungrateful for all of His provisions and protection.

Those of you who read your Bibles are very familiar with the Lord's love and extreme patience throughout all of Scripture; and no doubt in your own life as well.   

"But thou, O LORD, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."  -  Psalm 86:15

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."  -  2 Peter 3:9

Romans 2:3-4 says, "Do you suppose, O man - you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself - that you will escape the judgment of God?  Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"

Take time this weekend to thank your Heavenly Father for His blessings and for Jesus and for His patience.  He loves you.

"Your Best Friend Ever" - Inspirational Weekend

What is a friend?  The dictionary says a friend is "a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard; a person who gives assistance; a patron or supporter."  I don't know who originated the following quote, but it is quite beautiful:

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

A true friend is a treasure indeed.  Today, many people spend more time alone on the internet or in front of the television than they do mingling with other people. Sometimes finding a best friend is not that easy; but then again, you need to be a friend to have a friend.

You may already know Who the best friend ever is:

A new believer in the Lord tends to think of Jesus primarily as the Savior.  But as one reads the Bible, prays, and grows in faith, he will realize that Jesus is very much his Friend as well.   Not any so-called earthly friends are likely to die for you, but Jesus did just that and suffered a torturous and painful death at that.   

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."   -  John 15:13

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

Jesus' sacrificial death proves His great love for us.  No other friend could love you that much.   When I think on it and try to comprehend the power and depth of His love, my mind just cannot fathom such a wonderful and true love as His.   I never felt love from my earthly father , or from my mother either, for that matter. My father's parents raised me for the most part, and I sensed that they loved me by their care, but they never actually told me that they loved me.   My family was just not demonstrative in any way. Guess who has had difficulty in understanding and demonstrating love?  Yep, me.  The turning point in my life was when, after much heartfelt prayer to the Lord for an extended amount of time several years ago, I blurt out to the Lord with all my heart "I love you", and actually understood what love for God and Jesus meant.   In the years following, after much prayer and Bible reading, my love has grown for the Lord, and also so has my gratitude for all that He has done in my life and my heart, soul, spirit, and mind.   He has truly transformed my mind and set my priorities straight.  (Romans 12:2)

Part of having Jesus as a friend is to be a friend to Him.  We do that by obeying His commandments.

"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."   -  John 15:14   

When you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind (Mark 12:30),  obeying His commandments will be easier and you will find a true joy in having close fellowship with Him.  After all, life is all about relationships and the reason you were created was to have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  And to love, honor, reverence, obey, and draw close to Him and to share His love and the Gospel with others. Remember, however, that obedience to Him is the only means by which we can declare our love to Christ.  

Another way Jesus is our friend is the fact that He prays for us.  

"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them."   -  Hebrews 7:25     (See also Luke 22:31-32).   

Unlike our earthly friends, who can be fickle, Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us.  (Hebrews 13:5).   He really, really loves us. Let that sink deep into your mind and heart.   He is always willing to forgive us.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  -  1 John 1:9

Remember the hymn "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" ?  I thought I would share it now with you:

Pay close attention to the words in this hymn.  We can take everything to the Lord in prayer, and He will help us in our time of trial or sorrow.  

You must be born-again and a true believer in Jesus as your Savior and Lord and Master to be a friend of His.   Imagine, the glorious Creator and Redeemer, the very Son of God, calls us His friends if we obey His commands; and He in turn is our very best Friend ! 

If you are an unbeliever and are living in sin, you are not being a friend of God and you will perish in your sins unless you repent and turn from your wrongdoing, and by faith accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.  

"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

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."

Keep in mind that we are now living in the last hours of the last days that the Bible prophesied about;  many prophecies are coming to pass now or are leading up to their soon fulfillment.  Jesus could return at any moment to rapture true believers to be in heaven with Him before the 7 year Tribulation of God's wrath occurs on the earth to all the ungodly who will be left behind.   No one knows the day or the hour that Jesus will return, but students of Bible prophecy feel it must be very soon in light of world conditions and the convergence of so many end times signs right now on earth.

Don't be left behind to face the horrors of the Tribulation period. You also do not want to go to Hell as an unbeliever.  Give your heart to Christ before it is too late.   

Jesus loves you.

Jesus will forgive you.

Jesus is waiting for you with open arms to embrace you with love and acceptance once you repent and come to Him in faith.

This reminds me of that poem, part of which says:  "Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last."

It is all about Jesus, folks.  

Turn to Him in total surrender.

Live for Him and Him only.   

Jesus is your best Friend Ever !

Days Of Chaos; Bible Prophecy Unfolding (With Video)

                                                     

"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: 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."     -  Jesus at Luke 21:25-26

The above verses have their major fulfillment during the 7 year Tribulation period, but we see signs happening right now leading up to that prophecy in the near future.  People are fearful now of all the chaos and the world in turmoil and the threat of World War 3. But remember what Luke 21:28 tells us:

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

For a true believer in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, these chaotic times and Bible prophecy prove to us that He will soon return to rapture His followers to be in heaven with Him.   These are exciting times for Christians, even though they are being persecuted.   They realize their deliverance is near and they have a blessed hope (Titus 2:13).  

After true believers in the Lord are raptured, they will be in heaven with Him for 7 years, or a little longer depending on when the 7 year tribulation actually begins on the earth.  The Tribulation will not necessarily happen immediately after the Rapture occurs.  Many scholars feel that it will take time for all the prophecies to unfold and for everything to progress to the time the antichrist comes on the scene and signs a 7 year peace agreement, or covenant, with Israel.   The signing of that covenant is what begins the Tribulation period.  (Daniel 9:27).  The antichrist will break that covenant after 3 -1/2 years.   Remember, Israel is God's prophetic time clock; the Lord has not finished with His chosen people.  The Tribulation is God's way of dealing with Israel and to have a remnant turn to Him and believe in Jesus as their Messiah.

After the 7 year Tribulation,  Jesus and the raptured saints will return to the earth and Jesus will conquer at the war of Armageddon.    Jesus will put an end to His enemies and satan will be bound for a thousand years, unable to mislead mankind during the Millennial Reign of Jesus on earth.   (Revelation 20:1-3).  At the end of the 1000 years, satan will be let loose again and, unbelievably so, many will follow the devil instead of staying close to Jesus and obeying Him  (Revelation 20:7-8).   In verses 9 and 10 of Revelation 20, it tells how God destroys the rebels and casts the devil into the lake of fire where he can no longer deceive mankind. Then comes the great white throne judgment of unbelievers and all ungodly people are thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).  In fact, I strongly urge you to read all of Revelation 20, 21, and 22.  It speaks about the new heaven and the new earth, and how God will wipe away all tears, and that there will be no more death and no more sorrow  (Revelation 21:1-4) .    

What a loving and yet just God we worship!   Christians know how it all ends:

GOD WINS !

Following is a video from prophecywatchers.com featuring L.A. Marzulli  who discusses a variety of end time and prophetic topics.

"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 Spirit."   -  Romans 15:13

"Not Right Now ?" - Inspirational Weekend

Earlier this month I was at the beach with my son and his family and friends, and my 3 year old grandson was my big joy and delight.   One adult friend asked my grandson to do something (I forgot exactly what he asked), and my grandson kept on walking and didn't miss a beat and said, "Not right now" as he continued about, in his 3 year-old way, his important business.  My grandmother's heart thought that was the cutest thing ever!   Naturally, he had heard his parents say that and understood exactly what it meant.   

After later sharing this amusing and precious moment with others, I began to consider the words "not right now" in a more serious and profound way.

How many Christians have felt the call of God to serve as a missionary and have said instead, "Not right now."

How many have felt the urge to help a homeless person, but were intent on their business and thought, "Not right now."

How many were prompted by the Holy Spirit to witness about Jesus but, for one reason or another, decided "Not right now."

I could continue on and on, but you see where I am leading us to.  Most of our ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit is due to selfishness (maybe of not having enough time to spare to act, for example) and just generally self-love where we think only of our own needs and not the needs of others.

See the lighthouse on that 600 foot sea cliff in the above photo of mine?  I have walked the 2 mile trail up to that Makapu'u lighthouse on the southeastern shore of Oahu, Hawaii.  It took a bit of effort, being a grandma, but once at the top the view below was breathtaking and you could see such a beautiful shoreline and the mountains all around. 

Jesus has been compared to a lighthouse.  His life and words and example have been a "light" to many.  It takes effort to stay in His light; being guided by His loving Spirit to put Him first in our lives.

And to obey Him and keep His commandments.

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  -  John 8:12

The hymn, "The Lighthouse," seems fitting to include here now:

Are you walking in darkness now?  Have you heard the gospel and know you need Jesus, but you keep saying, "Not right now."? May I remind you that tomorrow may be too late !  You might die before tomorrow arrives, and then where will you spend eternity without Jesus?  Jesus could return the next minute to rapture true believers to heaven to be with Him......where will you be when the 7-year Tribulation begins if you have not  previously accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and Master?    

One may be so involved in the pleasures and lusts of this world, that they say "Not right now" to surrendering their lives to Jesus.  They love the world too much.   Here is another reminder:

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."  -  James 4:4

And another reminder:

"(15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.   (17) And the world passeth away, and the lusts thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."  -  1 John 2:15-17

Many people are enjoying their sinful life in this evil world and do not want to think about giving it all up.  Part of it is their own sinful will, and part of it the influence of the devil, who is the god of this world.

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them."  -  2 Corinthians 4:4  

Please, if you have not done so, accept Jesus as your Savior and put your faith in Him so that you may have eternal life in glory with Him.   Do not continue to say, "Not right now" !   

Jesus' return is imminent... it could occur at any time.

Be ready.

Be like the true believers spoken of in Philippians 2:15 :

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without  rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."

"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

Middle East Turmoil - What's Next? (With Video featuring Andy Woods)

Everyone is aware of President Trump's visit to the Middle East as well as Rome.  This is prophetic!  Trump really wants peace for Israel and the Palestinians, and is working towards that goal.  But quite frankly, there will be no true peace in the region until the Prince of Peace (Jesus) returns and sets up His Millennial Kingdom.   

After the Rapture of true believers ( the Church, the Bride of Christ) the antichrist will make a covenant for peace with Israel which will begin the 7 year Tribulation, but it will be a false peace and a temporary one at that.  After signing the 7 year covenant with Israel, the antichrist will break it after three-and-a-half years.  

"And he (the antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. "   -  Daniel 9:27

It should be mentioned here that although Israel will have a brief, false peace under the antichrist, there will no doubt be wars in other parts of the earth, as the antichrist goes conquering (Revelation 6:2)

But Christians living now will not have to worry about the antichrist or who he is, because we will be raptured before he comes on the scene, or is revealed.   We believers need to focus on Jesus and His soon return and live godly lives and be ready to meet Him in the air.   

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."  -  2 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Therefore what is next - for believers - is the Rapture.  For those unbelievers who are left behind, more wars, cosmic disasters, and the wrath of God as He judges the ungodly left on earth to suffer the horrors of the Tribulation.  

Following is a video by prophecywatchers.com featuring Andy Woods' opinions on the "Middle East Meltdown", in which he discusses the Gog/Magog war and Ezekiel 38 as well as other insightful thoughts and conclusions.

It is Mr. Woods' opinion that Islam is furnishing the theological motivation for the Gog/Magog attack.   

"What the situation will be like in the world before the Lord returns, namely, Christ will be despised, and the preachers of the Gospel will be regarded as fools."  -  Martin Luther

"Such are the conditions prior to Judgment Day.  We need to learn from this and not fret when we see these things happening, but say: Christ predicted beforehand that the world would become so savage, coarse, greedy, and so on.  Well then!  That's the way it is; and it is even going to get worse."   -  Martin Luther

The above two quotes by Martin Luther sound very negative, but you have to admit what he said is very true of today...these last days we find ourselves living in now.   Read Matthew 24.  

The good news is, Christians have a blessed hope !   (Titus 2:13)  The hope of being raptured to heaven to be with the Lord forever!  We should be full of zeal to witness about Jesus to lost souls, especially since the time is short before His return.

Following is an uplifting song about when we shall see Jesus.

Let us remember that only Jesus can bring lasting peace to this world.   If you give your heart, soul, and life to Jesus and believe He is your Savior and repent of your sins and ask for God's forgiveness, you will have a certain degree of peace right now.  Peace in your soul, knowing you are right with the Lord.  You may still have trials and tribulations on this earth, but with the Holy Spirit's help,  you will have endurance and strength to persevere.  

"(For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee:  behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)"  -  2 Corinthians 6:2

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."   -  Jesus at John 14:27

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"  -  Titus 2:13

The September 23, 2017 Myth

The Internet is overflowing right now with the myth that the Rapture will occur on September 23, 2017, because of the alignment of the stars and of what Revelation 12 records.    Granted, it is possible for the Rapture to occur at any time, even on September 23, but it is not likely on that specific date.  Mainly because of what Jesus said at Matthew 24:36,  "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."  He also says at Matthew 24:44, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh."  In these verses Jesus made it very clear that no one would know the day or the hour when He returns.

Following is a video by Joel Richardson concerning this big to-do over September 23 of this year.  The following video contains a video from Stellarium showing exactly where the stars will be on that date, and it disproves the current theory that it will be the time of the Rapture.  It is a very informative video and Mr. Richardson's thoughts on this false sign of September 23 of this year are worth taking note of.

 Update :  This video was deleted .  To view go to You Tube and type in   ..  The Underground Episode 65 The False Sign of September 23, 2017

Sorry for the inconvenience.

It is very true that this year is worth noting; so many prophecies are coming true almost daily, or are a precursor of what is to come.  I have written several posts about the end times, the Rapture, the Mark of the Beast, the 7 year tribulation, etc.  You may type any of those subjects in the above right search box to take you to those posts.   

Pete Garcia has written an excellent article on how significant the year 2017 is.   For instance, 2017 is 70 years since Israel became a nation again (Israel won the right to statehood on 11-29-47); also, this year, it has been 50 years since they regained Jerusalem in the 6 day war of 1967.  Remember, the Jewish people are special to God; He made an everlasting covenant with them in ancient times and Israel is the LORD's prophetic time clock.  The end times began when Israel became a nation again. You may read Pete Garcia's article here.  

Let us not get so involved in dates and prophecy that we neglect the main thing:  Jesus Christ, our Lord and King and Savior.   We need to stay focused on Him, in worship and in praise.  We need to pray daily and read our Bibles daily so we may grow to know Him better and to thereby have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with Him.  He loves us and wants to hear from us and He wants to fellowship with us.

We should live godly lives, in expectation of our Lord's return at any time.   

"And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."  -  1 John 2:28

"How To Be Strong" - Inspirational Weekend

How refreshing is this small waterfall !  It reminds me of what Jesus called "living water".  (John 7:38).  God's holy Word is even more refreshing - and more rejuvenating - than even this delightful waterfall shown here.  Just a side-note: when I do my daily Bible study I have an internet video going depicting a stream with waterfalls and with birds chirping in the background.  It is very soothing to watch and listen to as I read my Bible.  It is not distracting as the sound is on low and I only occasionally glance at the moving water.  Try it sometime.    

This post is about acquiring strength to face obstacles.  Reading God's Word and immersing yourself in its faith-building truths will enable you to do just that.... to face hardships and trials with the Lord as your strength.   

"My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according to Thy word."  -  Psalm 119:28

Philippians 4:13 tells us,  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."   I could almost end this post with that verse, because it just about sums up everything concerning strength and how it is possible when you have the Lord by your side.  You can face anything by the power of God/Jesus and you can endure the impossible in His strength.  Philippians 4:13 is a only a part of what Paul had in mind in this epistle as to Christ's abilities to meet all of our needs.  

A large part of endurance and learning to be strong is found in the ability to learn to be content in whatever circumstances one finds himself in.  (Philippians 4:11).  The more you have your mind on Christ and on heavenly things (and not on the lusts of the world), the more you will find yourself content, serving the Lord and living a godly life, with Jesus to guide and strengthen you in all things.

"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,"  -  Ephesians 1:19-20

"Only he who can say, 'The Lord is the strength of my life' can say 'Of whom shall I be afraid?' "  -  Alexander MacLaren

"You become stronger only when you become weaker.  When you surrender your will to God, you discover the resources to do what God requires."  -  Erwin Lutzer

We need to rely on the power of God.  God cannot use a person who is self-centered and who relies on his own strength and not on Him.  That is the epitome of conceit and pride to rely on your own strength.  When we were saved, we were to rely on Jesus as our Lord and Master as well as our Savior.  Inquire of the Lord when you are in doubt and need guidance.   He is waiting to hear from you.   He will give you strength to endure and to face your mountains.   

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength...........But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."    -  Isaiah 40:29, 31

Remember, however, that if you ask for strength, God may give you difficulties to make you strong.  It is through endurance that we learn to be strong.   

"Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath.  For occasions do not make a man frail, but they show what he is."   -  Thomas A. Kempis

Remember Paul and his thorn in the flesh.  In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul describes how he was caught up to the third heaven and that he "heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."  Verse 7 tells us that to keep him from being prideful he was given a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet him.  He prayed to the Lord to remove it, but verse 9 tells us:

"And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."    And continuing with verse 10 of 2 Corinthians 12:  "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

We can see that the Lord's grace was sufficient for Paul because it was a better solution than to remove Paul's thorn.  "Human weakness provides the perfect opportunity for the display of divine power."  

To be strong requires strong faith.  If you have been born-again the Holy Spirit will increase your faith as you study your Bible and as you come to the Lord in much prayer.   Answered prayers is one of the greatest faith-builders there is !    When you are in distress or feeling blue, just remember how many times God has answered your prayers showing how much He loves you and cares for you.  Recalling His goodness and faithfulness toward you will guarantee that you snap out of your negative mood and that you will also be encouraged to continue life's journey with much faith in the Lord, which in turn will make you stronger in your walk with Him.

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength."  -  Francis de Sales

"The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God.  When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength."  -  Warren Wiersbe

We find ourselves now living in the end times, the last hours of the last days.  We need our faith and strength in the Lord to be able to endure these perilous times.  (2 Timothy 3:1-5).  But, if you are a true believer in and follower of Jesus Christ,  you will be included in the Rapture of the Church which is soon to happen.  You will therefore not suffer the wrath of God which occurs during the seven year Tribulation period.  You do not want to be "left behind" and see and experience the horrendous judgments during the Tribulation; that is, if you are not saved now, you must give your life to the Lord in faith, believing in Him with all of your heart and also in His resurrection; repenting sincerely of all your sins and asking the Lord to forgive you and give you a humble and contrite spirit.

Time is short !!  


"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened  with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness  of God."   -  Ephesians 3:16-19   

2030 Agenda And A New Look At The Mark Of The Beast (With Video )

Much has been written about the 2030 Agenda, and I will not elaborate on it except to provide you with a link that will help you understand just what it is truly about.  Think about it!  2030 is less than a full 13 years away.  And the powers that be intend to have every person on earth cataloged and marked by then!  My opinion is that perhaps true believers in Jesus Christ will be taken to heaven before then.  Please go to the following link:

http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-2030-agenda-this-month-the-un-launches-a-blueprint-for-a-new-world-order-with-the-help-of-the-pope

The following video featuring Carl Gallups is very informative and chock full of new thoughts on the Mark of the Beast spoken of in the Bible at Revelation 13.

Speaking of the beast or the antichrist, Revelation 13:15-18 tells us:  (15) "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed (16) And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (17) And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.  (18) Here is wisdom,  Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."

In the video above, Mr. Gallups explains that man is a carbon-based life form.  "Carbon 12  is a major component of life and of DNA, of our chemical make-up.  Carbon 12 consists of 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons, which equals 666, the number of man or the number of humanity."   Interesting!  The antichrist (the beast) will be human, but he will be indwelt by satan himself.   You will find the above video compelling.

The fact that we are presently being cataloged and scanned and tracked tells you that we are near the beast system.   But my eyes and concerns are not on the antichrist.   

My eyes are on Jesus Christ, and His soon return to rapture true believers to heaven to be with Him.  

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

Guess What May Be Hastening The Fulfillment Of Bible Prophecy ! (With Video)

Are you watching the news ?  I have said before that Bible Prophecy is being fulfilled almost daily now.  To discern this, you need to not only watch the news but also to read your Bible, in particular about Bible prophecy.  The average person doesn't have a clue about the prophetic times we find ourselves living in right now.   And many Christians are included in that statement, because their pastors do not teach Bible prophecy.  The following video is a sermon by a pastor here on Oahu that, after his regular sermon each Sunday, does teach prophecy as well.  He is there faithfully preaching and teaching Bible prophecy in light of recent headlines, etc.     Following is the January 29, 2017, lesson.

Christians should be vigilant and watchful and on guard.  It is still a dangerous time for believers.  We need to be in prayer and in our Bibles daily, in order to be strong and to be able to endure what may follow.  There could be some bad times here in America (as well as across the world) before the Rapture of true believers occurs.   But rest assured, we will not suffer God's wrath --- that occurs during the 7-year Tribulation period sometime after the Rapture.   

There are end-time prophecies throughout the Bible; the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.  If you enter "end times" or "tribulation" or "Rapture" in the Search Box on this blog, you will see my other posts concerning prophecies and some with sermons and commentary.   You need to be careful what you see on the Internet; as you well know, not all of it is true or reliable.   Keep up on You Tube with "Prophecy Watchers" and "Prophecy In The News" for reliable resources on Bible prophecy.   Another excellent You Tube site is "Skywatch TV".

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."  -  Revelation 1:3

"Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."

Jesus speaking at Revelation 22:7

 

"How To Have Your Prayers Answered" - Inspirational Weekend

"Prayer is simply faith....faith and prayer move God."  -  E.M. Bounds

First of all, to have your prayers answered by God, you need to be a born-again believer in Jesus Christ.   The only prayer God hears by a deliberate sinner is one where the sinner comes to God in true repentance and sincerely asks for forgiveness and for Jesus to come into his heart and transform him and his life.  Needless to say, when believers commit unintentional sin, we too should confess it and ask the Lord for forgiveness.  We cannot be deliberately sinning and expect God to grant our every request.  Indeed, you should question whether you are truly a believer if you deliberately and willfully sin.   But I am reminded of King David where he committed adultery and had the woman's husband killed.  When he felt remorse and repented, the Lord forgave him, but there were consequences.  David had severe trials and family relationships went sour; one of his sons wanted to overthrow him and become king instead, and David had to flee for his life. (2 Samuel 11, 12, and 15).

The LORD God had said of David that he was "a man after Mine own heart."                                             (1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22)

So even godly David fell into gross sin, but when he showed true repentance, God forgave him.  My point is, when you sin , immediately repent and ask God's forgiveness so that He can heal you and restore you to a right relationship with Him once again.   Then He will continue to answer your future prayers.

That brings me to the thought that you need to have a close, personal, intimate relationship with God through Christ Jesus so that your prayers will more likely be answered by Him.  If you have this close relationship and are reading your Bible daily, you will have a better idea of what God's will is, and you will pray accordingly.  If a prayer goes against God's will He, of course, will not answer that prayer.  

1 John 5:14-15 informs us:  (14) "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us:  (15) And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."

Someone has said there are no unanswered prayers.  That your prayer is answered even when God says "no".  And how often have you prayed and then waited and waited for what seemed like forever before your prayer was answered?   We dare not question the Lord's timing.  He knows best.

For our prayers to be answered, we need to be definite and specific in our requests to God.  We should not be vague in our prayers, nor should we have some sort of abstract belief that God "might" answer our requests.  Faith and prayer go hand in hand.

Remember the parable of the importunate widow?  (Luke 18:1-8)  She continually persisted in her plea to an unjust judge, who got so tired of her pestering him that he finally granted her request.  This widow is a wonderful example of what insistent prayer  can do.  "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  -  James 5:16b

We need to pray with importunity, insistence, earnestness, faith;  heaven respects and God hears and answers such prayers.   Importunity in prayer consists of "insistence, intensity, persistence, perseverance, and patience. " 

Sometimes we pray in a ho-hum manner and/or out of habit and do not pray fervent, heartfelt prayers,  not prayers with importunity, as we should be doing.  Prayers with no soul, if you will; or "prayerless prayers", as E. M. Bounds calls it.  If you are so disinterested in your manner of prayer and your prayer is not heartfelt, why should the Lord be interested in paying attention to and answering your dull prayers?

"It is because of the hasty and superficial conversation with God that the sense of sin is so weak and that no motives have power to help you to hate and flee from sin as you should."  -  A.W. Tozer

"Prayer is not monologue, but dialog.  God's voice in response to mine is its most essential part."        - Andrew Murray

It has been said, "Prayer moves the arm which moves the universe." Also,  "When our prayers are answered it is the evidence of our abiding in Christ. To pray and receive clear answers, not once or twice, but daily, this is the sure test, and is the gracious point of our vital connection with  Jesus Christ."  -  E.M. Bounds   

"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."  -   Jesus speaking at John 15:7

Just a thought: the fact that God answers prayer is proof that He does exist.  The fact that a life can be transformed through faith in Jesus Christ is proof of our Lord's redeeming power. Therefore, God and Jesus care about us, are interested in us, and listen to us.  And, if we have a pure heart, will also answer our prayers.   Don't be a Christian in name only; let it be true and totally surrendered devotion to the Lord and not to the world. 

Also, when God answers our prayers, it brings glory to Him.  We are always to give God the glory !

Answered prayer gives us the assurance that God is near, that He loves us, and is watching over us.  Answered prayer also builds our faith.  It encourages us to come even more frequently to the Lord with our requests, and with great faith that He will answer in due time.   

I have also written about reasons to pray as well as the power of prayer  .   The main thing is not to just read about prayer, but to actually get down on your knees and pray fervent and heartfelt prayers to the good Lord.   The time is short.  The Rapture could occur at any time.   We are now living in the end of the end times.  Now is the time to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  If you are not sure how to pray, stop and ask the Lord for the wisdom to pray in His will.  

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;  and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."  -  James 1:5-7

The above verses give another way to have your prayers answered:  to ask in faith, not doubting.

"....(the) power of prayer can never be overrated.  They who cannot serve God by preaching need not regret.  If a man can but pray he can do anything.  He who knows how to overcome with God in prayer has heaven and earth at his disposal."  -  Charles Spurgeon  

"Prayer - secret, fervent, believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness."   

William Carey

More could be written about how to have your prayers answered, but I have touched upon the vital points to consider.   For a long time, I did not pray at all, but I was not truly born again then.  It took awhile for me to get into the habit of praying frequently once I actually knew the Lord.   It really does make a difference in your relationship with the Lord when you are often in fellowship with Him, and it surely builds your faith and love for God when He answers your prayers.  

Have a blessed and Christ-filled weekend!

"I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God:  Incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech."  -  Psalm 17:6

"The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."

Psalm 34:17