[Rabbit Island (Manana Island) and Black Rock Island (Kaohika'pu Island) - from Makapu'u Beach- Oahu Hawaii]
For this weekend post, the videos and links provided will contain the message, for the most part. This article concerns itself primarily with current events as they relate to Bible Prophecy being fulfilled - right now! - and how you, me -- the whole world -- will be affected!
First the following 29 minute video by Prophecywatchers.com featuring host Gary Stearman and his guests Bill Salus and Tom Hughes, who discuss "Future Prophecies Revealed."
You might also want to check out Bill Salus' website http://www.prophecydepotministries.net/ His site has interesting and pertinent info concerning our times and check out his links there.
Tom Hughes' website which contain recent prophecy videos and more, may be found here
Bill Salus has a recent article concerning Bible prophecies (20) specifically discussed in detail, complete with some graphic charts, found here here
At the above link, scroll down for his article titled :"Biblical Prophecies to prepare for now!"
Bill Salus' article discusses the antichrist, Mystery Babylon, the decline of America, and much more that you will want to read!
Following is another wonderful 10 minute video from "Grace for Purpose" with beautiful scenery and many Scriptures to encourage you. It deals primarily with the admonition that Christians should not be conformed to this world - but instead endeavor to please God and to follow in Jesus' footsteps as best we can. This world is decaying - it is dying ! It is to be replaced eventually by God with a new heavens and a new earth ! (Revelation 21:1-5) Who wants to be a zombie in a dying world!? And, face it, if a person is part of the world, he is making himself an enemy of God! (James 4:4)
As the above video admonishes " Trust God" in these perilous times ! He never changes and He is true to His Word ! - The world cannot say the same!
We need to be in prayer constantly! And the same thing goes for daily reading God's Holy Word - the Bible! That is the only way a person can come to experience God - to know Him personally and to have a close intimate, personal, living and vibrant, and true relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ! Our Heavenly Father wants us to fellowship with Him! You will never grow strong in faith unless you have a blossoming and "fragrant" - a pleasing - relationship with God the Father, which in turn includes Jesus, our Savior ! That is what it is all about, folks! Plus, how will you know God's will for your life - your purpose - unless you communicate regularly with Him! Basically, our purpose is to just obey Him and do His will! And of course, to believe in His Son Jesus Christ as the Savior and the only way to heaven!
For years, I thought my purpose was to just paint with a passion all the beauty and glory of God's creation and to depict it on canvas as best I could. But when I began to search the Scriptures in earnest (daily and in sincerity to know God and draw closer to Him and Jesus -- (I took a whole year off without painting at all! - just studying His Word and in much prayer ) - then God let me know His true will for me at this time !! WRITE! Share the Gospel of Jesus in that manner!
He answered my desire for years by urging me to write ! I had wanted to do MORE for Him for a long time.
[Waimea Bay - Oahu, Hawaii]
Following is an 11 minute video by Grace For Purpose You Tube channel concerning strange things happening now all over the world - yet it focuses primarily on how we as true believers should live our lives! The video encourages us to live with wisdom and to be prayerful.
And one last video now telling us "God Is giving Us - the World - Warning Signs" !! It is from another wonderful Christian You Tube channel "Lion of Judah". This 14 minute video gives Scriptures concerning the soon return of Jesus ! The Rapture of true Christians - Christ's "Bride", the Church. Just a note of caution - the narrator confuses the Rapture as being the same as the "second coming" (in Matthew 24) when Jesus returns at the end of the 7 year Tribulation at the Battle of Armageddon. (Matthew 24:30) and how everyone will see Jesus then - at the end of the Trib. .
You must understand that the Rapture occurs quickly - and that no one will see Jesus then ( meaning the world in general.) The true believers being Raptured will meet Jesus in the air and they most assuredly will see the Savior! The followers of Jesus will be in heaven with Him for the 7 years (approximately- depending on how soon the Trib. begins after the Rapture). After the Rapture, as stated, the Tribulation occurs on the earth. At the end of the Trib. - at the Battle of Armageddon, as previously mentioned - Jesus will return and destroy His enemies (the unbelievers and wicked will only then see Him) - and following that Jesus will usher in His Kingdom on earth, His 1000 year reign. Jesus will literally return to earth then, beginning when He returns at Armageddon. But at the Rapture, He will remain in the air where Christians will meet Him and be caught up to heaven with Him. Whew! I got a bit redundant there - but only for emphasis.!! Many are a little confused about the difference - and the timing - of the Rapture and the Second Coming -- which are two different occurrences (appearance times) of Jesus.
I included the above video just the same - despite that error - because of the urgency of the times now (2 Timothy 3:1-5), and the excellent Scriptures included in the video.
The Rapture: Read all of 1 Thessalonians 4. "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." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
About the quickness and suddenness of the Rapture: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." - 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 I read or heard a sermon which told the approximate time of "a twinkling of an eye" -- I can't remember exactly right now, but it was less than the time to blink your eye! So, again, to emphasize, the Rapture will be sudden and fast, and unseen by those unbelievers who will be left behind.
Jesus' return after the 7 year Tribulation: read all of Zechariah 14! "Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there be a very great valley and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azalyea, ye shall flee like as ye flee from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." - Zechariah 14:3-5
Concerning Jesus' return at Armageddon: Please read all of Revelation 19! Actually, read ALL of the entire book of Revelation! Revelation 19 tells us that the Raptured believers are in heaven at "the marriage supper of the Lamb" during the 7 year Tribulation period occurring on the earth. Starting in verses 11-18 it concerns the return of Jesus with His saints at the battle of Armageddon : "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. ...... (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ..... 15) And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of ALMIGHTY GOD." - Notice that in Revelation 19:14, Jesus has with him the saints that had been previously Raptured , "armies.... white and clean" - and then also in Zechariah 14:5 ... "all the saints with Him." More Scriptures could be given here! It would benefit you if you searched out and studied them for yourself. It would be a blessing to you!
URGENCY! Many people just don't get it!
Time is short! Jesus could return at any moment!
Are you ready to meet the Lord?
Jesus is waiting to hear from you!
Jesus will welcome you with arms wide open to embrace you in His love and forgiveness !!
It is by faith in Jesus as the Savior that saves you! Just believe ! Head knowledge is involved to a degree in the sense that you understand to some degree what it all means to have complete faith and trust in Jesus (at conversion, one rarely understands it all -- that comes with time) -- yet it is faith alone that saves a person! Believe that Jesus paid your sin debt in full - He took our place on the cross and shed His precious blood (as the Lamb of God) and redeemed us - ransomed us!- so that we might have eternal life if we believe with all of our very being that He is the Savior!
Following are some Scriptures concerning salvation:
Remember, repentance for your sins and past life of ignoring God, is also necessary! And once we are saved, being imperfect, we will still sometimes sin, even unintentionally, and we must pray for forgiveness and repent of our sins daily. Beware if you intentionally sin and have no regret, no remorse for disobeying God ! If you habitually sin without it searing your conscience and thereby do not sincerely repent and pray for forgiveness, then you may not be truly born again !
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - Matthew 4:17
At the time someone gives his life and heart to Jesus in full belief and faith, in a sense that is a form of repenting (my opinion) , because many when first converted do not understand completely about repentance at the beginning! They may be "sorry" (better yet, remorseful in true grief and guilt) for their past sinful life, yes; but true repentance is shown by how they live their lives after being saved - after being born again !
"(For He hath said, 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
"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
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." - John 14:6
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16