"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, as 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. So when this corruptible shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." - 1 Corinthians 15:51-54
Yes, another article and video on the soon Rapture! This video you do NOT want to miss! You will really enjoy how informative this 29 minute video is - Pastor Billy Crone explains clearly here how the Old Testament (in Daniel,) talked about the The Great Tribulation as being, in reality, "Jacob's Trouble", meaning it was meant for the Jewish Nation and that a remnant of the Jews at that time would be saved during or at the end of the Tribulation (realizing Jesus as the true Messiah). The main point is, the Tribulation will be for the Jews primarily (some Gentiles left behind from missing the Rapture will be there, of course, during the Trib. and will be saved by faith in Jesus - said faith occurring during the Trib.) Please listen to Pastor Crone's explanation as to why that fact - that the 7 year Tribulation is for the Jews primarily - argues against the belief that any Christians alive today will be going through any part of the horrors of that 7 year period. (In other words, Jesus will rapture the Christians to heaven prior to the Tribulation!) Pastor Crone is always very informative yet very clear and easy to comprehend in his explanations. And very much in line with what the Bible tells us!! The following video is by prophecywatchers.com, and the host Gary Stearman's discussion with Pastor Crone.
Time is short!
Look around you today and witness Bible Prophecy coming true now !
Jesus loves you and wants to hear from you!
If you turn to Him in faith right now and believe that He only is the way, the truth, and the life -
Guess what?!
Jesus will welcome you with arms wide open and embrace you with love and forgiveness !!
Following are Salvation Scriptures for those not yet saved - that have not yet put their faith and belief in Jesus as the Savior. They must realize that Jesus paid their sin debt in full when He died and shed His precious blood - as the Lamb of God - so that He ransomed them, something only He could do, because none of us can save ourselves- our sin debt is too enormous and only the Sacrificial death of the Son of God can wipe the slate clean and pay our debt for us ! You must repent and pray for forgiveness, and believe with all of your very being that Jesus is the Savior !
"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 !!
As stated previously on this blog, to live in Hawaii has been said to be like living in Paradise! But we all know where the very best dwelling-place is! HEAVEN! And, later, during the 1000 year reign of Christ, we will enjoy life again on this earth. More about the millennial reign on another post here in the future, perhaps.
We believers can enjoy a sense of dwelling with the good Lord right now. The following verse at Deuteronomy 33:27 gives an explanation of what is meant:
"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: " - Deut. 33:27 a
One commentator has given a wonderful explanation on the above Scripture: "God is the refuge or dwelling-place of His people, their protection amid the storms of life, and the unfailing source of comfort and blessing to them in their pilgrimage state. Over them is His sheltering protection, and underneath them the support of His everlasting arms."
On the subject of God's everlasting arms and the Eternal God, here follows an excellent 37 minute sermon by Pastor Chuck Smith (now deceased) who was the founder of the Calvary Chapel Churches.
Pastor Smith tells us that God's everlasting arms are to "hold us up, and to take care of us", and "When you hit bottom... great! Because underneath you are the everlasting arms." Also, Pastor Chuck reminds us "Don't fight tomorrow's battles with today's strength."
Miller was a 19th Century (1840-1912) American author and Pastor. You may check the Internet for more information about him.
Please read all of this article above if you possibly can. It is very encouraging, and a very tender and loving message. Following are portions of Miller's article:
"We are not fighting our own battles unaided. We are not alone, unsheltered, unprotected, in this great world of danger. We are kept by the power of God. God's omnipotence encircles us and enfolds us. The things that are too strong for us we need not fear - for Almighty Arms are encircling us. .... Our part, then, is simple TRUST ! ...... This picture of God embracing His children with His arm, tells of His love for them. It tells also of intimacy, closeness of relation. .... God draws us nearest when we are in trouble or we are in pain! The "arm" is also the symbol of strength. A mother's arm may be physically frail - but love makes it strong. The arm of God is strong. It is omnipotent. It supports the worlds! When that Divine arm encircles one of His feeble children - all the power of the universe cannot tear it away! .... Then, when death comes, and every earthly thing is gone from beneath us, and every hand unclasps from ours, and every face of love fades from our eyes, and we sink away into what seems darkness and the shadow of death, it will be only into the Everlasting Arms....." (end of quote.)
You will enjoy the following hymn "Leaning on the everlasting arms".
Jeremiah 32:27 :"Behold, I Am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me?"
Jeremiah 17:7 : "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is."
Isaiah 26:3,4: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."
Hebrews 10:37: "For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."
As I uploaded my photograph of the butterfly, I thought "metamorphosis" in my mind immediately. We all know that particularly applies to insects such as a butterfly. It was first a worm - a caterpillar- when it was in the chrysalis state, before it changed and developed into a beautiful creature as above. So the word metamorphosis means any change of form or shape; a transformation. Not only where insects are concerned: it can mean ANY change of form or shape! (So explains Webster's 1828 dictionary.)
That is true of a sinner when he sincerely repents and turns in faith and belief in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Did you realize that the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament, refers to man as a "worm"? Check out Job 25:6, Psalm 22:6, and Micah 7:17. And God Himself refers to Israel (Jacob) also as a worm in Isaiah 41:14 which follows:
"Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."
The point is, the same can be said today of when a sinner, a "worm" in a sense (who is not a Christian) is transformed into a new creature when he becomes a true believer in Jesus Christ as the Savior. If he is truly saved and born again, he will change and become more Christlike and he will learn to rid his life of anything that hinders his walk with the Lord.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17
If Jesus were to return today or next week, or in the following months (no one knows the day or the hour, the Bible tells us) - if the Savior would return soon for His true believers, would you be raptured to heaven to be with Him?
Are you Rapture Ready?
If you are not saved by faith and belief that Jesus' shed blood at the cross can save you - by wiping the slate clean, so to speak- because He died in our place - He ransomed us - He paid our sin debt for us, in full ! Just believe in Him and in His resurrection; repent and pray for forgiveness - in all sincerity and with all of your very being and soul !
Following are Salvation Scriptures :
"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
"Jesus saith 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
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
The above will occur stronger over time after you have been saved; you may not understand much about reformation and restitution and sanctification when you are first born again. After all, you are a "babe in Christ" at first; but saved indeed (!!) if you have a faith and belief in Jesus as the Savior - a true repentance and salvation. Other things (such as restitution and giving up certain habits and the like) will take time to realize and also to learn to know what it is to follow in Christ's footsteps. What saves you is NOT WORKS but Faith! However, if you are "born again", works will naturally follow.
"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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2: 8-10
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life!
