"The Seven Year Tribulation and End Times (With Sermon on The Tribulation by Charles Stanley)" - Inspirational Weekend

The seven-year Tribulation period is right around the corner; it is a time when God's wrath is poured out upon wicked mankind that live in opposition and defiance of the LORD, those persons that did not accept Jesus as their Savior when there was still time.   Some time before the Tribulation, all those believers that looked to Jesus in faith and repentance were taken to heaven in the Rapture of the Church.   Followers of Christ will therefore not experience God's great wrath  ( 1 Thessalonians 5:9). God's wrath for believers has been satisfied because of their faith in Jesus who took the wrath for them when He died on the cross.  See my previous post on July 7, 2016, directly below for more information on the Rapture.

Many of you may be aware of the verses at Matthew 24:37-39 where it says of the end times that it will be just as in the days of Noah when Christ returns soon.   Did you know that scientists are now producing animals with human organs, that they are planning to experiment with human babies having 3 parents, and that they are attempting to reach a godlike state and live forever with transhumanism?  The fallen angels in Noah's day were doing animal/human creations before God wiped them out with the flood.  It all points to the fact that we are now living in the end times.  I wrote more about this earlier at this link, where you will also find two videos about the days of Noah: one featuring comments by Jeff Kinley, and the other video with commentary by Billy Crone.  Check out what Jeff Kinley has to say; you will find it interesting and eye-opening.   I decided to show the Billy Crone video here again right now:

In the video above, Billy Crone talks about how it was in the days of Noah, as well as the experiments being done in our time with animal/human hybrids (chimeras) and the attempt to create super-soldiers with micro-chips and vaccines to give soldiers where they feel no pain when injured so they can continue to fight.  Much, much more fascinating information is on this video -- things that were being done in Noah's day before God put a stop to it with the global flood.  The heavenly Father will soon put an end to all the evil atrocities being done today, things not only done in the name of science but in every other area as well.  These are the last days !

This post will deal mostly with generalities about the Tribulation; I will get into more detail about the judgments of Revelation in future posts.  Unsaved people need to be aware of how terrible and devastating and all encompassing the Tribulation destruction and punishments will be so that they will turn to Jesus as their Savior and avoid the plagues that will occur during that seven-year period of God's wrath on wicked people.   

The Olivet Prophecy at Matthew 24 and 25 also speaks of this time.   Please read those two chapters.  Jesus says at Matthew 24:22, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."   He also says at Matthew 24:29,  "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken."   

There will, however, be many that will be saved during the Tribulation.  Revelation 7:14 tells us, "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.  And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."   These Tribulation survivors and believers will have to pay with their lives under the One World Government and the Antichrist.   Revelation 20:4 says, "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."     Notice in Revelation 20:4 these believers during the Tribulation were beheaded.   Look at what is now happening with Christians being beheaded and you can figure out that this will continue during the Tribulation -- and by whom, no doubt.  It is easy to see how near we are to first the Rapture, then the Tribulation period.   It is time to get right with the Lord !

"(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  KJV

Just a reminder, when we say "Tribulation" we are speaking in general of the entire seven-year period.   But the Bible speaks of the "Great Tribulation", which is the last half of the Tribulation or 3-1/2 years .   Jesus says at Matthew 24:21,  "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."

Jesus is here referring to the the event at Matthew 24:15 which is about the revealing of the "abomination of desolation."   This is referring to the Antichrist and his desecrating the future rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.   Daniel 12:1b refers to this as "a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time......"   In fact, the last 3-1/2 years of the Tribulation is also known as "Jacob's trouble"  (Jeremiah 30:7). Jacob was the ancient patriarch whose name was changed to Israel from whence came the nation of Israel,     So called "Jacob's trouble" because this time period of persecution and natural disasters is God's way of dealing with the nation of Israel and its sin, in order to bring Israel, the Jews, to acknowledge God and also Jesus as the Messiah.   

I will go into more detail about this topic in my next post and also more about the 70 weeks of Daniel.    Below is a 3 part short sermon (about 25 minutes total) by Dr. Charles Stanley on the Tribulation period.  After the first 10 minutes of the sermon, it automatically rolls over to part 2 and then part 3.

"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."   -  Jesus speaking at Revelation 3:11

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our hope in Christ guarantees our safety.  

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

"How To Please God" (With Sermon by Chuck Smith) - Inspirational Weekend

Gorgeous male peacocks always make me think of pride.   I believe some of them think they are "it." Pride is spoken of as an abomination, one of the 7 things that God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19).  Chuck Smith mentions all 7 of them in his sermon found below, so I will not list them here.  Besides, I wanted to concentrate now on the things that please God.  

First, we need to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, and have a heartfelt, sincere repentance and the willingness to surrender our lives to Jesus and to live for Him and to do His will, not our will.   Having faith in God and Jesus pleases God.   Hebrews 11:6 tells us ,  "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone that comes to Him must believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

Next, we need to make sure that we are walking in the Holy Spirit.  Once you repent and surrender to Jesus, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit if you were sincere.  So we need to be spiritually minded and not carnal,  not with desires of the flesh and worldly tendencies.  Romans 8:6-8 tells us, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither can it be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. "  To mature in the faith takes time and much prayer and much time spent in God's Word.  One needs to develop a close, intimate, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Also, we need to obey God.   Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."  - John 14:15.  As your relationship with the Lord grows, so will your love for Him.   God"s commands  are beneficial, and if we obey them, we will grow spiritually and be more Christ-like.   Your character will become more holy, more righteous.   Jesus said He always did what pleased God the Father (John 8:29).  As followers of Christ, we need to endeavor to always please God as well.

We need to have a healthy, reverent fear of God.  He is the all-powerful Creator of the universe; He created us as well, of course, and we should be in awe of His majesty and sovereignty.   Proper fear and honor of God will help us to avoid sin (Exodus 20:20).

The Bible was given to us to help us know what God's will is.  If we read it daily, God will reveal to us His will in all areas.   Jesus set the grand example of doing God's will when He went to the cross and shed His blood for us, so we that believe in Him may have eternal life.  Jesus did His Father's will; He was totally committed to God and showed His love by His obedience.   We need to seek God's help to always do His will and thereby be true followers of Jesus.   If we obey the two great commandments at Mark 12:29-31, we definitely please God :  "And Jesus answered him,  The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than these."

Love is the key to pleasing God, for God is love (1 John 4:16).  If we love the Lord, we will want to please Him.   As Chuck Smith says in his sermon below, "Pleasing God is the purpose of our existence."

"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."  -  1 John 3:22

"Thoughts and Scriptures on Prayer" - Inspirational Weekend

Have you ever thought about the fact that people - just regular, everyday people - have the privilege to speak to the Creator of the universe when we come to Him in prayer?!  Even more incredible is that God hears us and acts on our behalf and answers our prayers.   Please understand this, that our Savior Jesus Christ had to die on the cross to make it possible for us to even approach God in worship and in prayer !

John Bunyan says it best when he describes prayer:  "Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and the assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised."

You need to be born again and living a godly, righteous life for the Lord to hear and answer your prayers.    Except for when a sinner for the first time repents and comes to God and Jesus the Savior in sincere belief and asks for forgiveness; God will answer that sinner's prayer and forgive him and welcome him as a child of God.   Aside from that,  consider the following Scriptures:

"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."  -  James 3:12

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  -  James 5:16

"But the prayer of the upright is His (God's) delight."  -  Proverbs 15:8b

We must pray according to God's will and also in Jesus' name.   One of our main jobs as believers is to pray for others.  "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"  -  Ephesians 6:18.   We should also pray for those in authority over us and for the unsaved.  (1 Timothy 2:1-3)

I would like you to listen to the following song by Celine Dion and Josh Groban titled, "The Prayer." I have posted it here before some time ago, but this time with different video images. It is the most beautiful duet that I have ever heard.

"Nowhere can we get to know the holiness of God, and come under His influence and power, except in the inner chamber.  It has well been said, 'No man can expect to make progress in holiness who is not often and long alone with God.'"  -  Andrew Murray

"Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for things, is a small part of it;  confession and penitence are its threshhold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine."  -  C. S. Lewis

"If we are to pray aright, perhaps it is quite necessary that we pray contrary to our own heart.  Not what we want to pray is important, but what God wants us to pray.  The richness of the word of God ought to determine our prayer, not the poverty of our heart."  -  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I confess that many years ago I went a long time without praying at all.   I had been burned badly and was bitter and resentful.   That in itself was enough reason to pray to God and ask for His forgiveness and help.   But I didn't.   That is, not until my world came crashing down, and God got my attention in a big way.   I lost pretty much everything and had suffered a divorce.   I spent a lot of time crying, but all the afflictions drove me to God in prayer.   And one day I told God that I loved Him for the first time in my life, and I immediately knew what that meant in all this enormous understanding that came over me.   Later I realized that I had never been truly born again until that turning point.   I began to read the Bible and to pray.... as time went on those two things became my lifeline.    I have since learned that prayerlessness is a sin.   " A prayerless life is a Christless life."  Someone famous said that; I may not have quoted it exactly right but that is the gist of it.

David Wilkerson said, "Prayer mixed with faith is the answer to absolutely everything."  

In these perilous times in which we live right now, prayer is the best thing we can do to survive all the craziness in the world.   Pray for the Lord's soon return to take us out of this wicked world and into heaven with Jesus.   The way Bible prophecy is being fulfilled on a daily basis, Jesus' return will be soon.   May He find you living a holy life, busy doing the Lord's will.   Pray without ceasing and be in your Bible daily.

Charles Stanley has said, "For prayer to be effective it needs to  be anchored in the Word of God."

Following is a sermon by Charles Stanley titled "Putting Prayer First".   Excellent sermon !

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."  -  1 Peter 4:7

"How To Overcome Anxiety In A Chaotic World" - Inspirational Weekend

These Koi seem peaceful enough, but have you ever fed them and watched what a frenzy they get into?  A feeding frenzy!  It's as if they get downright anxious about it.  People as well can get anxious about what they are to eat, or wear, or what tomorrow will bring.  The Bible talks about this at Matthew 6:25-34.

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.  Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment?"  This is Jesus speaking at Matthew 6:25.    This is the King James Version.   Where it says, "Take no thought for your life",  the New International Version reads, "Do not worry about your life".  Worry is a milder form of anxiety.   In my opinion, anxiety is worry on steroids!

If you follow the news, you realize the world is very chaotic right now.   Recently in America we have had violence played out in various areas, similar to what is going on in the Middle East.   People are becoming fearful and anxious about what tomorrow may bring.   There is also a sense of hopelessness with many people and they commit suicide as a way out of it all.  Some call this time we are living in a "culture of despair."  

"We must meet the uncertainties of this world with the certainty of the world to come."   -  A. W. Tozer

There is a better world to come!  If you are a Christian and read your Bible, you realize that God has a marvelous, heavenly future for all who are true believers.   Also, Christ will reign on this earth for 1000 years, and it will be a paradise.   (Revelation 20:1-6)    After that, believers will be with Christ for all eternity.   

That's all fine and good, but what about right now and how do I cope, you might say.  Read God's Word and pray without ceasing!  Only He can give you the peace within your soul that you desperately need in these desperate times we find ourselves living in.   Only God can fill you with hope of better things to come, which will be in heaven.   We need to be strong and not fearful.   The definition of anxiety is: "distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune."  Notice that anxiety is caused by fear.  When you place all your trust in God, there is no room for stressful fear.   Fear and anxiety show a lack of trust and faith in God and Jesus.

"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

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

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  -  Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)

I pray that the above Scriptures have encouraged you and given you hope.   It is normal to feel a little fear and anxiety at times, but we do not want to stay in that condition.   Consider all the wonderful Bible verses that give us hope.  Pray often and pour out your heart to God about your concerns, including any anxieties you might have.   Pray for the Lord to give you more faith.   

"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."  -  George Mueller.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  -  Jesus speaking at Matthew 6:33 concerning not being anxious about food and clothing and the like.  Keep your mind on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2).

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."  -  Corrie ten Boom

"Forget The Past" - Inspirational Weekend

The above driftwood reminds me of some people (and the way I used to be).   People can be carried along by the waves of the world ... sin and emptiness and purposelessness.   And before they realize it they end up stranded on the beach of ruin, burnt by life and parched and thirsty for meaning.  They are stranded with their baggage with no where to go, no where to turn.   One of the worst kinds of baggage is to be living in the past, and unable to forget the past hurts and disappointments and unfair treatment by others.  

Chances are, if you replay over and over in your mind past hurts, that you have not forgiven others of their sins against you.  This is serious because Matthew 6:15 says, "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  I recently made a blog post on forgiveness here .  You need to truly forgive those who have hurt you, slandered you, lied about you, or damaged you in any way.  Put them in the hands of God.   Then God will be able to heal you by His Holy Spirit and take the hurt and pain from your mind and soul.   Once you take everything to God in prayer, and surrender your hurts to His capable hands, a peace will come over you that only He can give.    

"Hurting people hurt people."  -  Unknown

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, "  - Philippians 3:13

In the above Scripture, the apostle Paul stressed "one thing I do", as if he gave that top priority...to forget the past - leaving it behind him as done and settled.  Paul kept his mind on "those things which are before"......his ministry and the future hope of eternity with Christ in heaven.  He wished to obtain "the prize", the crown of victory in heaven after he ran his race here on the earth.  When we look forward, as Paul did, we see everything to cheer us and spur us on to good works, as well as the joys of heaven and being with Jesus.   When we look backwards, we see everything to dishearten us and bring us down, especially if we dwell on past sins and hurts.   One who constantly dwells on the past, though he may be a true Christian, is often a recluse and he will be melancholy and depressed.  On the other hand, looking to the past he may consider all he has done and the difficulties he has surmounted and perhaps will become self-complacent and self-satisfied.  He will trust his past victories over difficulties and hurts, and become proud.   

"God has nothing to say to the self-righteous."  D. L. Moody

Granted, sometimes it is good to look back and learn from our mistakes in the past.  The past can teach us valuable lessons at times.   God can use past experiences - even the really bad ones - to transform us and mold us to become the kind of person He wants us to be. We grow and mature as we face trials and heartaches and learn to take it all to the Lord in prayer.   But generally speaking, it is better to let go of your past and live in the present, but with the future in view.

Luke 9:62 says, "And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

To put one's hand to a plow is a proverbial expression to signify undertaking any business.   In order to complete his work, the plowman must look onward and be intent on what he is doing, and not to be looking back with regret that he even began to plow in the first place.   So it is with a follower of Jesus Christ.....we must follow Him with our whole heart and not be influenced by the world and its sinful lusts.   And not to have a morbid fixation on what happened to us in the past.  You can make yourself ill with depression dwelling on unpleasant things.   Morbid things and thoughts are from the devil trying to tear you down and make you ineffectual as a Christian.   We do not want to be unfit for the kingdom of God.   One way to combat these negative thought patterns is to be constantly in prayer and in the Word of God.   If you truly know Jesus in your heart, and have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you will keep your mind on spiritual things and be a lot happier.  

2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new."

Note that the above verse says, "old things are past away.....all things are become new".   If you are a true believer, you are a new creation.   Forget the hurt and badness of the past.   You have a new and renewed mind (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23) and need to be thinking about the present and what God's will for you might be; as well as the wonderful hope in the future of being with Jesus in heaven.   I am reminded of Philippians 4:8 which follows:

"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."

Think about good things, which will be all the more easier when you are often in prayer and often in the Word of God.   

We are living in the last days; the Rapture of the Church  (true believers) could happen at any time.  We need to be busy in the Lord's work until then.   That means to share the Gospel with lost souls.  All Christians are ministers in that sense.

"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 at Matthew 28:19-20   (KJV)


Romans 12:1-2 informs us: (1) "I beseech you therefore, brethren,  by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."    - Jesus at Matthew 6:33



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

"Why We Should Forgive Others" - Inspirational Weekend

"To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love.  In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness."  -  Robert Muller.     

That quote partly answers the question as to why we should forgive others.  The main reason to forgive is given to us by Jesus at Matthew 6:14-15  :  "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  Think about that real hard.   You will lose fellowship with God and Jesus if you are unforgiving.   You may not lose your salvation, but you will suffer consequences.  The commentator John Trapp wrote,  "It is more comfortable to love a friend, but more honorable to love an enemy.  If thou reserve in thy mind any piece of the wrong, thou provokest and daily prayest God to reserve for thee a piece of His wrath."

This reminds me of the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35.   First of all, in verse 21, Peter came to Jesus and asked Him, "How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"  And Jesus , in verse 22, said  to him,  "I say not unto thee, until seven times but until seventy times seven."   The sense here is "times without number" or as many times as necessary.

In other words, as often as God forgives you.  In the parable of the unforgiving servant, he owed his master a huge debt, and  because of his pleading and begging, the master forgave him the debt.   Immediately this servant went out and found another person who owed him a very small amount in comparison, and he demanded payment of him.   The unforgiving servant had this man thrown into prison until he would pay him back.   When the master of this servant heard about it, the master had the unforgiving servant thrown into prison where there were tormentors and where he suffered greatly.   The point is, God has forgiven us for so much and therefore we should be forgiving of others.The offences committed by our brothers are very small in comparison to how greatly and often we have sinned against God.

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."  -  C.S. Lewis

We must consider that when Jesus was on the cross He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."  He was praying for His murderers !    We learn from Jesus' example that we have a duty to pray for our enemies, even when they are trying to injure us.   This shows the power and excellence of the Christian religion.  No other religion teaches its followers to pray for their enemies.  Another thing to consider is that followers of Christ are just that...followers, and should follow His example and be as forgiving as He is.   

"It takes a strong person to say sorry, but an even stronger person to forgive."  -  Unknown

Another difficulty some have is in forgiving themselves.   In a way that is a perverted sense of pride.  C. S. Lewis said it best,  "I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves.  Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him."   Remember the old saying,  "He is his own worst enemy."  

The first martyr in the early church was Stephen who was stoned to death by the religious leaders.  The account is found at Acts 7:54-60.   Verse 60 reads,  "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.  And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

How much did Stephen resemble Jesus in praying for his murderers!  "What a beautiful light does this place the spirit of the Christian religion!  Christ had given what some have supposed to be an impossible command:  Love your enemies; pray for them that despitefully use and persecute you."

(Quote from Adam Clarke commentary)

Remember, refusing to truly forgive a person brings out resentment, anger, and bitterness, which are not the characteristics of a true Christian.   By not forgiving, you are hurting yourself more than the other person.

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."  -  Ephesians 4:32

Below is a wonderful sermon by Charles Stanley titled "Forgiving Hurts That We Don't Deserve"