While viewing the following sermon video by Pastor Chuck Smith, it occurred to me that I have not always kept it "simple" on this blog. In my enthusiasm to help others, I tend to include as much information as possible for your benefit because I know the times are urgent and also that Jesus will return soon and my wish is for many to come to a saving faith in Him so that they may be raptured to heaven to be with Him before the 7 year horrific Tribulation period begins.
Pastor Chuck Smith's sermon is based upon 2 Corinthians 11:3 which follows:
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
Pastor Smith's sermon is 40 minutes long; I pray that you watch all of it, as I feel it is one of his best!
Pastor Chuck says to "simply teach the Word of God simply." He reminds us that the Pharisees of Jesus' day were mainly interested in all the minute details... and skipped mercy, and faith, and justice.
The posts on this blog tend to give a broad explanation of salvation, but only to edify and to make sure you understand what salvation is all about. Much is said here about the power of Jesus' shed blood, and how He was the Sacrificial Lamb; there is no salvation without the shedding of His blood to pay our sin debt in full as He took our place on that Cross, so that by belief in Him and His atonement we may have everlasting life.
I am reminded of how some people, at large assemblies by prominent evangelist, make a "decision" to follow Christ by coming forward, etc. But statistics have proven that many of them - most of them, in fact - fall away and don't last long. My opinion is (and also the opinions of others that study such things) that they just don't understand that it is much more than a "decision"- more than a head knowledge of Jesus or that it is simply the right thing to do. They need to be told salvation is a total, strong commitment to follow in Christ's footsteps as best they can; a total surrender to the Lord, and giving up their will to always endeavor to do His will - to obey Him. Much more than that, it involves a love and devotion to Him that is truly heart-felt; an all consuming desire to please Him with all of your heart, mind, and soul !
In other words, some people think they are saved when in actuality they are not. Saying a sinner's prayer one time and then going on about being totally living for worldly things and desires, does not mean you are necessarily a Christian. Some professing Christians never read their Bible and hardly, if ever, pray. Sanctification is a process, it doesn't all happen overnight, that is true.
Having said all that, however, belief in Jesus as the Savior is what saves you. Period!
Remember at Calvary, the thief on the cross near Jesus expressed faith in the Lord, and Jesus told him that he would be with Him in paradise. That thief had no opportunity to serve the Lord or do anything other than to express his belief in Jesus. ( Luke 23:39-43). Also, when Paul and Silas were in prison and a miracle happened (an earthquake) that caused the prison doors to open and everyone's bands were loosed. The jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved, and they said "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:25-34).
In 2017 here on this blog, a post was also made which shared this information and more. Here is a link
A wonderful hymn that explains this truth of faith only in Jesus as the Savior is the old favorite titled "Just as I am" Here it is for you who are not yet saved (and for us older saved ones to enjoy again)
"All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." Jesus at John 6:37
Another hymn to encourage unsaved souls is "Softly and Tenderly" found below:
Jesus will return soon!
Be Rapture Ready!
Jesus loves you and will welcome you with open arms in an embrace of love and forgiveness!
Following are Salvation Scriptures ! If you are not saved, take these verses to heart, repent, and turn to the Lord and pray for forgiveness. If you are sincere, God will answer that prayer and welcome you to His family!
"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 in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
Just a short note: Faith is number one! Belief in Jesus as the Savior!
Although knowledge is important, a person can know all "about" Jesus and salvation, but that does not necessarily mean that he is truly saved.
It is not "what" you know, but Who you know!
The important thing is to develop a close, intimate, loving, personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior! We do that by much time in prayer and by much study and reading of God's Holy Word, the Bible. The good Lord wants to fellowship with us! You cannot get to know a person or be "friends" with Him if you never communicate with Him.
The Lord expects and desires faith and belief from us!
He expects and demands obedience from us, and to put His will first in our lives.
All of which we will delight to do, and will want to do, if we are truly saved, truly born again.
Believe in the Lord with all of your heart, mind, soul, strength !
"And Jesus answered and said unto 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." - Mark 12:29-31
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life!
The above parrots I photographed in Waikiki ! Their owner was nearby. Just felt like sharing this today.... maybe because we Christians should be "parroting" to others about the signs of the end times - which we are most definitely experiencing now - and, most importantly: sharing about the hope and salvation and eternal life found only by believing in Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven, the only way to the Father.
"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
The post here on September 17, 2020, was concerned mostly with the proper fear and reverence of God. While doing my Bible Study this morning, part of it was focused on Psalm 130: 3-7. I hope you will take the time to read all of that Psalm. Following are verses 3 and 4:
"If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O LORD, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared."
If God were not a forgiving God (to those who are truly repentant and are sorrowful for sinning and disobeying the good Lord) - we would be toast if He were cruel and unforgiving towards us. We would fear to approach a God who was harsh and "out to get us"! We would run the other way. But knowing that the Lord is forgiving and merciful, we sinners may come to Him in faith and can be assured of His mercy and forgiveness. One commentator says on Psalm 130:4 "Not a fear of bondage, but of LOVE, fearing to offend."
Love for God will make you want to spend time with Him. This and more is brought out in the following 6 minute sermon clip by Pastor David Wilkerson.
Here is a link to the latest report from prophecynewswatch.com. There is more than one article you might find interesting (and shocking) concerning current events as relates to Bible Prophecy. For one, China is on the way to becoming a superpower; for another, the recent peace treaty (Abraham Accord), is it preparation for the antichrist? Check it out, as there is more information pertinent to our very lives.
Some of you may be familiar with Mark Hitchcock, a prominent pastor and author of today. Here below is a 10 minute video concerning the Mark of the Beast, Armageddon , and the Great Tribulation, and more. Those who regularly keep themselves updated on these things may already be familiar with what Mark Hitchcock has to say, but it is still beneficial to watch, especially for newcomers to Bible Prophecy and how what the Bible told us in times past is coming true today at a fast and furious rate ! Which proves we are now experiencing the last moments of the last days and that Jesus will return soon for His followers before the Tribulation begins.
Pastor Hitchcock has his own You Tube channel, which I discovered today. Check it out !
Also, for end times signs, please read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. We do not know the day or the hour, but Jesus told us we would recognize the "season" of His return. We are now in that season!
You may, as well, go to the search box on the top, right hand side of this page and enter such things as : "signs of last days, convergence of prophetic signs, Rapture, 7 year Tribulation, the Mark of the Beast" and so on. And there are articles on Forgiveness, Endurance, Peace, and the like. Some of these other articles also have videos.
[Torch Ginger]
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." - 1 John 3:2-3
In verse 3 above, let us consider what it means to "purify ourselves."
No way does it mean that we have the power on our own to purify or cleanse ourselves. We should put forth some effort to become more like Jesus, however; we do that when we read our Bibles and note the Savior's graces and attributes to learn how we also should behave as His true followers. When we are truly born again by sincere faith in Jesus as the Savior, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). Also, remember what the Lord said at John 14:23, which follows:
"If a man love Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
You will have the Lord's spirit living within you, and that will enable you to be "pure" in the sense that He will be transforming you into His own image. We all realize that we will never be totally pure or perfect until we are in glory ! But we should make it our top priority to live for Christ and we should reflect His attributes as much as we possibly can. But it can only be done with His Spirit enabling us. And remember, the various trials and sufferings we endure, and (as one commentator says) :"by a thousand tests..... by infinitely varied images of mercy.....by the martyrs fortitude and the missionary's sacrifice....proved itself in many a patient and suffering life.... these are among its constituent arts..." As you endure trials, you will turn more and more to the good Lord in prayer for help and strength and guidance, and that in turn will draw you closer to Him as well as increase your faith and trust in Him; especially when He answers your prayers!
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing." - Jesus at John 15:5
The words of Jesus in the above verse says it all ! In order to bear fruit (and to become more Christ- like) we need Him to help us.
So do not be fearful when all these "strange new world" affairs occur; they were prophesied in the Bible to happen in these end times. Instead, realize that soon we true followers of Jesus will be in heaven with the Lord; before the evil 7 year Tribulation occurs. We are out of here soon, believers! Now that is something to look forward to with great joy !
"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
[Kaelepulu Stream Near Kailua Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii]
My photograph above was taken, obviously, a long time before social distancing and any "lockdown." Many unexpected events have occurred since then - even since January of this year, which is obvious to everyone in the world by now. But not everyone is aware of what's "behind the scenes". Following is a 54 minute video by Bible Prophecy experts which gets down to the nitty gritty of our current situation. It is a MUST that you view this video, for your own safety and life, even. Featured in the following video are Jan Markell, and pastors Tom Hughes and Brandon Holthaus.
Many of you believers are no doubt familiar with the Scripture about "peace and security" found at 1 Thessalonians 5:3 which follows:
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." - (speaking of sinful and wicked persons who do not know Christ.)
Also in 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 4 - 11 concerns true believers in Jesus as the Savior; those verses follow:
"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light , and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
It would be beneficial for everyone to read all of 1 Thessalonians 5.
[A day at Kailua Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]
Here is a link to Jan Markell's newsletter which is found at her website: olivetreeviews.org . Her entire website is one that you might want to visit often, not only for her newsletter, but other pertinent information concerning our prophetic times (the last moments of the last days). There you will find articles by various pastors and others, as well as videos.
The information in the newsletter link above is a must read! Following is a quote in the above newsletter link from an E-mail sent to Jan by a pastor: "We don't live in uncertain times. Not at all! These times are as certain as any time in all of human history, and the God of the universe laid out this time in great detail, point by point, and in fact with all the details needed by His people, to live in times of absolute certainty !! So no, there is nothing uncertain about the times we live in to the believer who is seeking to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
In the link above, on the newsletter, there is included a recent video that is very enlightening so far as our current world situation is concerned. I will post a link to it here, in case you do not check out Jan's newsletter. It is a "Prophecy Roundtable - Globalism and the New World Order", featuring Jan Markell, Amir Tsarfati, and Pastor Barry Stagner. It is well worth your time (and your mind) to watch all 70 minutes of this recent video.
Note: Having difficulty with the link. You can go to Behold Israel on You Tube and look for the video by Amir "Prophecy Round table : Globalism and the New World Order" posted on August 29, 2020. Or simply go to the above link to Jan Markell's newsletter and you will, as said previously, find the video there.
[Kailua Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]
Lately on this blog, there have been mostly posts concerning salvation. I feel as if this is most important for Christians to share with others. Jesus said to His disciples:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them 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." - Matthew 28:19,20
Again, to Martha at John 11:25,26: 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?"
Belief in the Gospel; belief that Jesus died for our sins and took our place on the cross and shed His precious blood so that by believing that He is the Savior, and that His shed blood (as of a sacrificial Lamb) can wash our sins away.... wipe the slate clean, and we become a new creation . This is the most important message Christians can preach !
"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17
However, almost 1/3 of the Bible consists of prophecy! Since God included it in His Holy Word, it should be considered important too! Many, because of prophecies in the Bible, and how they came true in the past and they are coming true right now as well.....many persons have come to faith in Christ by knowledge of Bible prophecy - they were convicted that the Bible is true, and therefore all of God's Holy Word concerning Jesus and Salvation must be true as well.
In Ezekiel 33, much is said concerning us to be "Watchmen on the wall." Obviously, it meant those in Ezekiel's time, but the same principle definitely applies to true believers today - to sound the alarm in these times as well. Part of Ezekiel 33 applied to sounding the alarm about the danger of war. Verse 6 says:
"But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand."
Also verses 7-9.... "So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul."
So we see that not only should we warn people to turn FROM SIN and instead turn to belief in JESUS AS THE SAVIOR, but we should also warn of war (as in Ezekiel 33) and other dangers; to alert people of the signs of the times and caution them to avoid certain things; especially to avoid things that go against God's Holy Word.
All true believers should be "ministers" in a sense, as well as "watchmen" that warn of evil and corruptness and dangers to avoid; (the signs of the times... these last days) and to obey only God. That is, we should obey traffic laws and other such things, but do not do anything that God's Holy Word says to avoid!
Please watch the following 15 minute sermon by deceased Pastor David Wilkerson titled "The Only Hope In The Coming Storm."
Flowers cheer me up, even when I do not need cheering up; when all is well with me. Most women, and some men, will agree that flowers and their beauty soothe the soul as well as being a delight to behold.
Actually, only the good Lord can truly and completely soothe the soul and give you hope and encouragement and a reason to live; and give you everlasting life if you believe in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus on the cross; that His shed blood cleanses you from all sin when you put your whole faith and belief in Him as the Savior.
This reminds me of the hymn "In Christ Alone". I posted a video of that hymn recently on this blog. Two stanzas stood out for me in that hymn : "And as He stands in victory, sin's curse has lost its grip on me." And, "No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand."
Just a note, people you knew before you were saved, cannot believe the change in you is real once you become a child of God by belief in His Son Jesus. That applies to unsaved acquaintances of your past. Not knowing the Scripture at Romans 8:1(nor any other Scriptures as well), and being carnally minded, they cannot grasp the new spiritual birth concept. Most of the time they will not listen to you or anything you have to say about Jesus or salvation. Many of you true followers of Jesus have experienced this from others.
"Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you." - 1 Peter 4:4 (KJV)
The NLT Bible renders the above verse: "Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you."
The following verse in Romans 8:1 is good to make them (former unsaved associates) aware of ; and it is also encouraging for us as believers to focus on:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." - Romans 8:1
This means your past sins have been erased in God's sight as the Father now sees you as washed clean by Jesus' sacrifice and redemptive work on the Cross. When God sees you now, (as you being saved by faith) He sees you through Jesus. You are a new creation!
"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
Here again is a video of the hymn "In Christ Alone" :
It is very true, as many men of God have stated, that when you give your life to Jesus and become a sincere and devoted believer, the devil will attack you with various trials (and even doubts about your faith) because you are a threat to that evil deceiver and he hates you as he fears God. The devil is also angry because he once had you in his grip, but when you came to faith in Jesus the evil one had no more power over you. And the devil, the slanderer, will endeavor to turn people and events against you.
In my previous post last weekend (scroll down to view) there was included a short 4 minute sermon clip by Pastor Jack Hibbs on the subject "We are in a spiritual battle". You might want to go there and watch it.
Leonard Ravenhill said, " If you stir hell up [by sharing the Gospel or by just living a holy life ] the devil will stir up everything he can against you: you'll get misrepresented, misunderstood......"
Let's go ahead and include that sermon by Ravenhill now. It is only 25 minutes long. The sermon is titled :"Suffering - the marks of God's approval".
"These people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me." - Jesus at Matthew 15:85
That verse directly above, spoken by Christ, applies to many who are mere professors of Christianity, and that are not truly born again.
"God's will: nothing more; nothing less; nothing else; at any cost." - author unknown
Note: the devil is also known as the destroyer at Revelation 9:11; and he is called a murderer and the father of lies at John 8:44; satan is called "the god of this world" at 2 Corinthians 4:4; and, again, he is called the deceiver at Revelation 12:9.
Be on guard ! Recognize satan's tactics when they occur!
1 John 4:4 says: "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."
Most Christians are familiar with the above Scripture at 1 John, but following is some commentary on that verse they may find helpful and, in addition, unbelievers who might read this article may also be encouraged to come to faith and/or see Jesus working in your life by the following explanations:
Adam Clarke's Commentary tells us: (on "ye are of God"); "Ye are under the influence of the Divine Spirit, and have overcome them (false teachers). Your testimony, proceeding from the Spirit of Christ, has invalidated theirs which has proceeded from the influence of satan; for greater is the Holy Spirit which is in you, than the spirit which is in the world."
Today there are still false teachers as you know, but this verse can also apply to worldly people as well (those who are not saved and who do not believe in Jesus). Watch your associations ! (1 Corinthians 15:33; James 4:4)
Albert Barnes tells us in his commentary on 1 John 4:4; "God/Jesus, Who dwells in your hearts, and by Whose strength and grace alone you have been enabled to achieve this victory, is more mighty than satan, who rules in the hearts of the people of this world.... the apostle meant to say that it was by no power of their own that they achieved this victory, but it was to be traced to the fact that God dwelt among them, and had preserved them by His grace. What was true then is true now. He who dwells in the hearts of Christians by His Spirit, is infinitely more mighty than satan, "the ruler of the darkness of this world." And victory, therefore, over all his arts and temptations may be SURE. In his conflicts with sin, temptation, and error, the Christian should NEVER DESPAIR, for his God will insure him the victory."
Focus on the good Lord and the things above; be filled with the Holy Spirit and have a strong faith in God/Jesus. Do NOT focus on the bad and the negative; if you begin to do that, go to God in prayer and He will help you to overcome the negativity. Have faith!
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." - Colossians 3:1,2
This article focuses on the devil more than I ever think about him; it was with the aim to make people aware of his evil schemes and how we must remain in close fellowship with the good Lord in order to overcome the wickedness of this world of today.
Do NOT focus on the evil one !! Keep your focus on the things above!
Pray often ! Read your Bible often!
Just a few more words of caution about the evil devil, and then let us please move on to good, and lovely, and pure things.
To put it bluntly, satan is after your mind! Your mind is the devil's top priority. To ward off this evil deceiver's attacks, you need to feed your mind often with God's Word (the Bible) and thereby reprogram your mind. (Romans 12:1,2). And, of course, be often in prayer. This, and much more, is brought out in the following 13 minute video. This video gives the best explanation EVER on what the Bible calls the whole armor of God! (Ephesians 6:10-18)
When the devil attacks you with doubts or any form of torment he can think of, tell that accuser, "I'm not wearing my own righteousness, I am wearing the righteousness of Jesus Christ." So says the narrator in the above video. You can also say out loud to the accuser and the deceiver, "I plead the blood of Jesus." That will send the devil away from you fast! The name of Jesus has power!
Suffering, therefore, according to Ravenhill, is the mark of a true believer, because he has the marks of God's approval. Not all believers suffer as greatly as did Job or the apostle Paul, for example, but none of us are exempt from trials and hardships in this life. As the Bible encourages us, trials will send you flying to the good Lord and on your knees in prayer, and you will therefore learn to rely on Him more and more as He molds and shapes you - thereby producing a close, intimate, loving, and personal relationship that you will have with Him. And hardships and problems that seem insurmountable will help you to become more Christlike as you seek help and guidance and direction from God; and His answers to your prayers will build your faith, as well.
"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." - Jesus at Luke 6:26
That verse above can well apply to some of the "celebrity preachers" of today.
The secret of endurance? Walk with God!
"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" - Micah 6:8
Following is a daily devotional (published May 28 ) of Charles Stanley on the topic "The Storms of Life". Please watch it; it takes only almost 3 minutes to view it.
The verses quoted in the above video are from 1 Peter 4:12-19. After the verses above are read there is a brief commentary on them. It would be beneficial for all of you to go to Dr. Stanley's devotions every day.
[Cannonball Tree Blossoms]
The world we now live in is very different from when I was young. It is very different also from even about 10 years ago. As stated before on this blog, we are now seeing the beginning stages of the New World Order, or the One World Government; which will include the One World Economy and the One World (false) Religion. There is much chatter on the Web about the soon to be cryptocurrency - meaning the world will go "cashless." That will set the stage for the future "Mark of the Beast (antichrist)" during the Tribulation which follows the Rapture of the Church, Jesus' Bride. (Go to the "search box" in the upper right hand side of this page and enter such information as "cryptocurrency, ID 2020 Alliance, ID 2020 vaccine, New world order" and so on for more information. Many other topics you may also enter such as "Faith, hope, salvation, forgiveness, the Rapture," etc. )
Also, please check on the web concerning prophecies of these end times we are currently experiencing. But better yet, read your Bible daily and pray to the heavenly Father to guide you, and to help you know His will for you in all matters.
It is so very important to be in God's Word daily. The Holy Spirit will give you understanding if you are a born again believer in Jesus as the Savior.
If you are a saved and true believer in the Redemptive work of Jesus on the Cross, and you believe that He is the Savior and the only way to heaven; that His shed blood washes our sins away when we put our faith and trust in Him and when we believe with all of our very being that He alone is the way to heaven because He is the Savior...... then you will NOT be here for the soon to be 7 year Tribulation period. Those 7 years will be hell on earth, full of horrific judgments and the wrath of God on the ungodly persons left on earth then. There will be plagues and destruction such as we cannot even begin to fathom. Read the Bible book of Revelation to find out more about the judgments and plagues and horrors of the Tribulation . Actually, the 7 year Tribulation is also God's way to bring the Jewish people to come to acknowledge that Jesus is the true Messiah.
As stated above, true followers of Jesus will be raptured to heaven before the 7 year Tribulation when He returns soon - very soon - to take believers (the Church) to glory with Him.
There is a ton of information in this article ! The reason is, it could possibly be the last blog post I write. I am hopefully waiting for Jesus' soon return!
Time is short!
Turn to Jesus in faith before it is too late!
Jesus will welcome you with love and forgiveness and hold you tight and secure forever in His safe and protective embrace !
"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
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." "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
"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." - Jesus at John 3:16
Time is running out!
If you are already a believer, remember what Jesus said concerning these end times we are experiencing. In particular the signs that are occurring now that He told us would happen in the "season" of His return ( the signs found at Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21). He said when these end times signs begin to happen:
"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 Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !!
Yesterday (Sunday) while checking the Internet, I saw information on how Damascus, Syria, was attacked by Israel. Automatically I thought of Isaiah 17:1 which reads,
"The burden of Damascus, Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. "
I immediately went to "Behold Israel" on You Tube which is current events in the Middle East explained by Amir Tsarfati, a Jew who is a believer in Jesus Christ as the Savior, and who has a thriving ministry out of Israel, where he lives. He preaches all over the world and I have featured his videos on this blog several times prior to today. It turns out that Israel made strikes on 6 different targets, one of which was the airport in Damascus. Isaiah 17:1 has not as yet been fulfilled, but it will happen soon. Following is Amir's 12 minute video on the Israeli strikes in Syria:
Many scholars believe that the Tribulation period may not begin immediately after the Rapture of the Church occurs; perhaps it may be several weeks to several years after Jesus takes His Bride to heaven.....a gap, if you will. Bill Salus, a prophecy expert, explains this and much more in the following video by prophecywatchers.com in which he and the host, Gary Stearman, have an interesting discussion on Bible Prophecy, focusing on primarily the book of Revelation. Here is that 29 minute video:
I found something new to think about and to do research on in the above video. Most believe that when the six seals of Revelation are opened, that that happens during the Tribulation period. Bill Salus believes the seals happen before the trib. Here is a portion of Revelation 6, verses 9-11 :
(9) "And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (10) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (11) And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."
Bill Salus' reasoning is that if this question had been asked during the Tribulation, then they would know that period would last for 7 years, according to prophecy and at the end of that time God would judge and avenge their blood. Therefore, the seals happen before the Tribulation, (but after the Rapture of the Church), according to Mr. Salus, since these souls under the altar did not know how long it would be. The souls spoken of here are evidently those who became believers after the Rapture and were martyred.
{Update: September 8, 2018: While watching Bill Salus on another interview today, He clarified that the Seals of Revelation 6 ...specifically Seals one to five....happen during the time gap between after the Rapture occurs and the Tribulation period. He believes that the sixth Seal and the rest of the judgments poured out on earth happen during the Tribulation. It is a video which lasts over 2 hours so click below on the time minutes starting at 1 hour and 2 minutes to begin the Salus interview. Here is a link to that recent video where Mr. Salus again discusses the Seals and so much more:}
Let me make it clear that I am not saying that I agree with Mr. Salus' conclusions. It is just something to throw out there. It will take research and much prayer on my part to determine whether he is right or not.
The main thing is, get right with the Lord and be ready for the Rapture of true believers. We believers will not be here on earth when the Seals of Revelation occur. Focus now on living a godly life and endeavor to always please the good Lord. Be busy sharing the Gospel and winning souls to the Lord. How long, O Lord?
We believers today ask that question also as to when the Rapture of true believers takes place as Gary Stearman points out in his interview with Bill Salus. It is wonderful that we should be watching for the Lord's return but, again, do not neglect in the meantime to live a holy life and to be busy sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Time is short!
We are living in the last hour of the last days !
When Jesus returns for His Bride, the true believers, you do not want to be "left behind" to face the judgments and the horrors and the wrath of God which will be poured out during the Tribulation. I urge you to please read the entire book of Revelation for more insight on future events. Doing so will instill in you the desire to avoid going through the Tribulation period as it will be a terrible time filled with horrors and suffering and destruction.
Nor do you want to end up in hell, if you are an unbeliever, where all who reject Jesus as their Savior will go if they do not repent and turn to Him in faith and belief.
Jesus loves you and is waiting for you with arms wide open to embrace you with pardon; to give you hope; to give you a future with Him in heaven; to give you eternal life.
Pray and ask for forgiveness; truly and sincerely repent of all sin, which means to forsake your sinful ways and to not live in sin any more. Have real faith and believe Jesus is the Savior who can wash all of your sins away by His shed blood at Calvary. Believe also in His resurrection.
Romans 10:9,10,13 says it best: (9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
Beautiful scenery, the ocean, the mountains, and even the clouds themselves remind me of the Lord and of how awesome He is. Jesus created all of this, and He created you and me.
"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ:" - Ephesians 3:9
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." - Revelation 4:11
For a long time (before I was truly converted and before I began reading the Bible daily) I believed God alone created everything, but the Scripture in Ephesians 3:9 states that Jesus had a hand in creation as well. The verse at Revelation 4:11 is speaking of God Almighty being the Creator. according to most commentaries. This is no contradiction, since God is at the same time Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: "God in three Persons, blessed Trinity." Since Jesus created you and me, He is our possessor, our Master, and deserves our worship and obedience. He came to earth just for us and to restore our relationship to God the Father. Everything about Jesus' reason to come to earth was about saving us from our sins. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
Jesus is everything !!
It is all about Jesus !!
Please listen to this beautiful song titled "It's All About You Jesus":
There is no one like Jesus ! He is God's Son and He is the Savior of the world.....to those that will believe in Him and have faith in Him and believe in His resurrection (Romans 10:9-10,13).
Think of His sacrificial and painful death at Calvary, so that by His shed blood that washes away our sins, we might have everlasting life if we truly believe in Him as the Savior. Think of all He has done for you. Then ask yourself, "What have I done for the Lord?" He is your Creator, and therefore He has a claim upon you. Think on some of the things Jesus does for us: Jesus forgives sins (Luke 5:20; 7:48). Jesus always lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). Jesus resurrects (John 6:40,44; John 11:25-26). And Jesus has done and will do so much more for His true followers. Surrender all to Him and obey Him and be grateful and do as He said at Matthew 28:19-20 :
"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."
The last part of verse 20 above where Jesus tells us that He is with us always is very comforting and encouraging. It encourages us to always do His will and to obey Him as well as endeavor to draw closer to Him.
Thinking of all Jesus has done for us and how much He loves us, ought to fill us with gratitude and joy and with much reciprocal love. Jesus is the best Friend anyone can have, and He says that we are His friends if we obey His commands. (John 15:14) Good friends spend much time together and enjoy each others company. Is that true of you where Jesus is concerned? He longs to fellowship with you. Show your love by spending time with Him and by much prayer to the Lord and much Bible reading and studying. Someone has said that the Bible is rather like Jesus' biography. Jesus is the Word (John 1:1) and therefore when you read the Bible you begin to know Jesus better, and when you know Him even better, your love and relationship with Him will grow and blossom into something beautiful and enduring. You will feel His Presence and obeying His commands will be easier. He will fill every need. He is all you truly need.
"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him." - John 14:23
Church activities can be a good thing, but for some they are so busy "doing" this and "doing" that that they forget to spend time just "being" with the Lord and worshiping Him; and a vital and personal and intimate loving relationship with the Lord is most important; more important that a dozen activities that keep you from actual fellowship with Jesus.
But I digress a bit. This was to focus on how "It's All About Jesus !!" Yet discussing our interaction with Him deserves attention as well. Our first and foremost focus should be on the Lord, and then everything else will fall into place. Take time to be holy !
Have a Christ-centered weekend !
"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." - 1 John 4:14
"Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." - Romans 5:9
"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
"For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." - John 3:17
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3
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.
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." - 1 Peter 5:7
The above Scripture is very comforting and a reminder that the good Lord cares for all of His children. When it says "Casting allyour care", it means to take all of your "anxieties" to the Lord, "cast" them to Him, which takes effort and is not easy to do. And then do not take all your cares right back upon yourself once again and bear the burden alone. Leave them with the Lord, and have faith that He will take care of them for you - All of them.
It should be mentioned that before you can cast all of your anxieties on God, you must first have confessed all known sin and been repentant and thereby have a clear conscience in order to cast your cares on the Lord and then to expect Him to help you; to take the burden off of you and onto Himself. First you must feel Him to be a reconciled and loving Father. If there is any unconfessed sin in your life, you will probably not even cast your anxieties and burdens upon Him.
God never told us that we shall never have anxieties; they are a part of this fallen world in which we live. And this fallen world is a cause for anxieties in itself. Right now we have the threat of nuclear war looming over us, and many other fears as well in this evil and lawless and cold world. We need to take all of our concerns to the Lord in prayer. Prayer has a way of putting things in their proper perspective and thereby giving you a peace and the sense that, in the end, everything will be alright.
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
Here is a song about casting all your cares upon the Lord:
God loves His children, and constantly thinks about them and wants them to come to Him with all their cares.
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; Make no tarrying, O my God." - Psalm 40:17
Family, friends, and neighbors may abandon you or neglect you, but God never will !! "If we are what we should be, we shall never be without a friend as long as there is a God." This is true if you are a genuine believer in Jesus Christ as your Savior, Lord, and Master. To all unbelievers, God is waiting to hear from you and for you to give your heart and soul to Jesus in sincere belief in the redemptive power of His shed blood, and to believe that He rose again from the dead. (Romans 10:9)
Believers, stop and recall how many times God has shown you that He was thinking of you.....in answered prayers, in protecting you from harm, in all His blessings that He has bestowed upon you, and in so many other ways. And He does this even when we do not think of Him as often as we should. God's care for His people is always true and always unchanging. He is always there for us.
Many people who do not trust in the Lord and who do not cast their cares upon Him, go around all glum and fretful, often complaining and being very dissatisfied with life. They are also fearful of many things. Don't let that be you. Cast your burdens on the Lord. (Psalm 55:22).
Believers in Christ have a blessed hope that sustains them and gives them solace (Titus 2:13). They have the promise of eternal life and of being with the Lord forever. Their faith in God gives them strength and endurance to face obstacles and to surrender all to the Lord. Consequently, they do not let anxieties get control over them and make them all fretful and filled with dread. They have the love of Christ in their hearts, and His many promises of better things to transpire in the future, all of which gives them hope and encourages them to pray about their concerns and to draw ever nearer to the Lord.
Following is a 26 minute sermon by A.W. Tozer on "Casting All Your Cares Upon Him" :
A. W. Tozer became a Christian as a teenager. He was born in 1897 and passed away in 1963. He was an American pastor and author.
Have a blessed and Christ-filled weekend !
"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." - Romans 10:9
"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." - Psalm 55:22
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;" - Titus 2:13
"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Jesus at Matthew 11:28
I have written previously about a gap of possibly several years between the Rapture of the Church and the beginning of the seven year Tribulation period. This post includes a video discussing that very subject. But before we talk about the video, it will be a good idea to discuss the 7 seals of Revelation 6. There we find the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Most of you are familiar with the four horsemen, but many of you probably have not read the Scriptures pertaining to them. Please read the entire chapter of Revelation 6 for your own edification. I will touch on those verses briefly now.
Revelation 6:1-2 (the first seal) speaks of the white horse, "and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given him: and he went forth to conquering, and to conquer." This is the antichrist , who is alive today and will be revealed after the soon rapture of believers.
Revelation 6:4 (the second seal) speaks of the red horse, which symbolizes war.
Revelation 6:5 (the third seal) tells of a black horse, "and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand." Revelation 6:6 reveals that he represents famine, and economic hard times.
Revelation 6:8 (the forth seal) reveals a pale horse, "and his name that set upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him."
Revelation 6:9-11 (the fifth seal) speaks of "the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Notice that these martyrs do not know how long it will be, so, according to Bill Salus, they must have died and said this before the Tribulation began, because the Tribulation begins when Israel signs a peace covenant with the antichrist, and the Bible tells us how long after that before Jesus returns to destroy the wicked on earth and sets up His Millennial Kingdom. This is expounded upon in the following video.
Revelation 6:12-17 (the sixth seal) speaks of cosmic disturbances to come upon the earth. Instead of repenting, the remaining wicked upon earth choose to try to hide.
The seventh seal begins the seven trumpets.
In the illustration above, the 5th seal is shown as "Martyrdom and the Great Tribulation." In the following video from prophecywatchers.com, Bill Salus explains why he believes these seals of Revelation 6 happen after the Rapture but before the Tribulation.
Please watch this video and decide for yourself if you agree with Bill Salus' conclusions. He "challenges traditional thinking" says Gary Stearman of Mr. Salus.
Whether Bill Salus or anyone else is right or not, we need to believe the Bible and we need to make sure we are right with the good Lord. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. It does not mean that we will be perfect, but that we should have faith in God and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, Lord, and Master. We should immediately repent of our sins, and not repeat them and live a life pleasing to the Lord. We should surrender to Him totally. His will, not ours, be done.
"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." - Romans 12:1
"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:22-23
"Because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:16
