"Fear Not; God Will Save And Deliver You" - Inspirational Weekend

Let us focus now on the good, the lovely, the godly; on the Scriptures and on faith, hope, and love.   The world is full of chaos, deception, terrorism, and the threat of nuclear war.  Many people are fearful and anxious of the things coming upon the earth.  Let us take a peaceful break from all of that and concentrate on the good instead.

"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."  -  Philippians 4:8

What good? you may ask.   You are alive and privileged to draw breath another day.  If you are a Christian - a true believer in Jesus Christ - you have the hope of living forever in all eternity with Jesus and God.  That is good news!

Here is a worship song by Chris Tomlin titled "Fear Not" :

The above song reminds us that God is mighty to save and that He will not abandon us.   (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6)  Even if we die or are killed in a war, etc., God does not abandon us to that fate in the sense that true believers when they die will go immediately into the Lord's presence.   

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 informs us,  (6) "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (7) For we walk by faith, not by sight:  (8) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

According to the above Scripture, the believer who has died is immediately at home with Jesus.  That is so much more preferable to this life on this troubled earth.   

It has been said that the subject Jesus mentioned most was "Fear not".  We are so inclined to do just that - to fear.  That is, perhaps, why He mentioned it so often -  365 times - either "fear not" or something along similar lines was spoken by the Lord.  

Once you become a "new creature" in Christ (1 Corinthians 5:17) you will develop a close, personal and intimate relationship with the Lord; that means your faith and trust in Him will grow and you will not fear the unknown or death.   God is in control.  He is watching over you and will take care of you.   

We need to be still and know that He is God.  (Psalm 46:10)

Here is a worship video with beautiful landscapes and Scriptures to help relax you and to help you to take in the healing words and message it contains :

And if you will read your Bible, it tells us how everything will end when all is said and done.   

God wins!  He will gain the victory over satan and the evil principalities.  We will live forever with Him in eternity.  What a hope!   What a future!  

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  -  Romans 8:38-39

For the above to be true for you, you need to accept Jesus as your Savior, Lord, and Master.  Have faith in Him; believe in Him and in His resurrection, and you will be saved.   (Romans 10:9,10,13)

But first you must sincerely repent of your sins and ask the Lord for forgiveness.  God looks at the heart, and if you are truly repentant and have a humble and sincere faith, the Lord will hear and answer that prayer to Him for forgiveness and salvation.

The next step is to find a true Bible-based Christian church and to fellowship with other believers.   (Hebrews 10:25).  Tell the pastor of your decision to follow Christ and to be baptized.   Just a note, baptism does not save you but, rather, it is a public declaration of your faith in the Lord and symbolizes being now dead to sin and raised to life.

And please remember how important it is to read your Bible daily.  That is the primary way God speaks to us.  By daily reading of God's Holy Word you learn of His attributes, His love, and His forgiveness; and you will grow in your love for Him.  This draws you ever closer to Him, as does daily prayer.  The Lord wants to fellowship with us.  And you will discover the power in His Word and the power of prayer.  Which in turn empowers us to live a godly life as we become a friend of God.

"We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God.  He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts."    A. W. Tozer

"Assurance is the fruit that grows out of the root of faith."  -  Stephen Charnock

Faith is the killer of fear.  I used to be fearful of many things before I came to know the Lord.  Now I have peace and know that I am in God's hands, no matter what happens.  Faith gives you a positive attitude and gives you hope.


"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."  -  Psalm 23:4

"Be careful {anxious} 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  

Have a wonderful and Christ-centered weekend !

The Seven Seals of Revelation - Why A Gap Between The Rapture And The Tribulation (With Video)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Gratitude And Thankfulness Pleases God And Jesus" - Inspirational Weekend

"Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it."  -  A.W. Tozer

The quote above is so true.  When things are going badly or I get a little discouraged, all I have to do is remember how God has blessed me in so many ways and when I pray and thank the Lord for His goodness and His blessings, it relieves any negativity that has crept into my thoughts and puts me back on the right track. Worshiping and praising the Lord is the most positive and powerful antidote for any type of upset or discouragement.  It causes me to remember all the ways God has "rescued" me in the past, and that in turn increases my gratitude many times over.  It also increases my faith tremendously to recall His goodness to me in times past, as well as in the here and now.

"God wants to see prayers that are filled with genuine praise and thanksgiving for what He has done in the past.  He wants our hearts to be filled with awe and gratitude for His blessings.  He wants us to set up memorials in our hearts testifying to the provisions He has given us."  -  Michael Youssef

The Bible is full of men of God who expressed their gratitude and thankfulness to their Creator.   Job lost all of his children and all of his wealth and was stricken with painful boils all over his body (all at satan's wicked hand).   Although Job did not realize the evil one was behind all his troubles and pain, still Job had faith in the goodness of God and said at Job 1:21, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."  Job was grateful to God and still praised Him in his adversity.

Consider how the apostle Paul was persecuted and all of the hardships that he endured during his ministry and in preaching of the Gospel.   Yet his letters to the churches were full of thanksgiving.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul wrote,  (16) "Rejoice evermore.  (17) Pray without ceasing. (18) In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

All one has to do is read the Psalms of David to grasp how much he gave praise to God and that he was grateful for all the LORD's provisions and protection and guidance.

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." - Psalm 100:4

Consider how Jesus Christ suffered and died at Calvary so that all who believe in Him and in His resurrection may have eternal life. How could we not be grateful for His sacrifice and for the extreme and supreme love He demonstrated in doing so for us!!

"If we comprehend what Christ has done for us, then surely out of gratitude we will strive to live "worthy" of such great love.  We will strive for holiness not to make God love us but because He already does."  -  Philip Yancy

May all of us say a prayer like what George Herbert said, "Thou who has given so much to me, give one thing more: a grateful heart."

Just as parents are pleased when their children show them gratitude, so it pleases God and Jesus when we are thankful and grateful to them for their many blessings.

Here is a lovely song on thankfulness by Josh Groban:

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."  -  Colossians 3:15

"Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and  power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.  Amen."  -  Revelation 7:12



  

North Korea Threat And End Times Prophesied Convergence of Events

I have been keeping up with the latest on the North Korea threat, mostly on alternative news media.   This present threat is worse than the Cuban missile crisis during John Kennedy's administration in the early 1960's.  Now it seems that Russia and China are a threat to the US fleet approaching North Korea as their ships are following the U.S. ships and their airplanes are flying over our ships and watching them closely.  Following is a 12 minute video by Pastor Paul Begley from his You Tube channel.  He gives some critical information on this North Korean threat and how Russia and China have turned against America.  Please watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jtrYEsk3Ss

The Bible tells us that wars and rumors of wars is one of the signs of the end times before Jesus returns.

"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places."  -  Jesus speaking at Matthew 24:6-7

Please read all of Matthew 24 for more end times signs.   Also read Mark 13 and Luke 21.   There are many signs Jesus gave; so we are not to point to just one or two signs, but rather, as the Lord said, to a convergence of all the signs at one time.   Britt Gilette, in an informative article , tells us that the number one sign of Jesus' return is all the signs appearing together all at once like we see right now.

"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors."  -  Jesus at Matthew 24:33

In the above link to Mr. Gilette's article, he lists various signs with Scriptures to prove these are the last hours of the last days.  The sign that began these end times was when Israel became a nation again in 1948 after about 2000 years of being scattered throughout various countries of the world.   It was a miracle!   

"Who hath heard such a thing?  who hath seen such things?  Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day?  Or shall a nation be born at once?"   -  Isaiah 66:8

This prophecy of Isaiah came true in May of 1948.  Israel became a nation again in one day!   I have mentioned previously that the church has not replaced Israel....that God still holds the nation of Israel as His special people with whom He made an everlasting covenant in ancient times.   We need to keep our eyes on the Middle East and on what the Bible prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39 and many other Bible verses in other books of the Bible as well.  All the enemies of Israel as spoken of in the Bible are now coming together against Israel....but God will miraculously save Israel from her enemies.   I pray you will read the entire article linked above.  

Speaking of convergence, the following video from prophecyinthenews.com tells us that the one world economy and the one world government spoken of in the Bible book of Revelation are already here, to some degree.  

In the above video, they discuss what is more than a documentary film by Brent Miller Jr. and Sr., and show two clips from that movie.   It is fascinating information.   Bible prophecy is a very effective witnessing tool as it proves that the Bible is true and is from God.   As Kevin Clarkson says in the above video, "faith is founded on fact."

Most churches today do not deal with or teach Bible prophecy at all.  This is a down-right shame.  Christians need to know how close we are to Jesus' return so that they can witness to lost souls about the urgency of repenting and turning to Jesus Christ in faith and truly believing in their heart that He is their Savior, Lord, and Master.   Believe and repent before it is too late.

Jesus is at the very door !!

Christians need to be careful not to get caught up with the cares of everyday living, making a living, and raising a family that they neglect God and Bible reading and prayer.   The Lord wants us to have a close, personal, intimate relationship with Him.  He wants to fellowship with us.   Going to church does not save you.  Good works and faithfully serving in the church do not save you.  Only faith in Jesus Christ and having a close personal relationship with Him will save you.   How can you be a true Christian if you do not fellowship with the Lord?!    Yet I have been told by more than one person, professing to be a Christian, that they never read their Bible.  A true Christian has a hunger, an insatiable desire to be closer to God, to feel His presence, and to worship Him in total surrender.  Therefore, they devour His Word with joy and in expectation of His blessing in teaching them and giving them understanding of His Holy Word.    It takes the Holy Spirit to give comprehension of the Bible.  You need to be born-again.

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."  - Jesus at Luke 21:34

Time is short, folks.   Don't get caught up in the world and its pleasures and lusts.  (James 4:4)  Live instead for the Lord in total surrender to His will.  Let your life be a testimony to the power of God; the resurrection power of Jesus.

This world is not the true home of Jesus' followers.   We have a place prepared for us in heaven by the Lord.  (John 14:2-3)   Live a godly, holy life filled with hope of soon being with Jesus.

Maranatha!


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

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

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."  - Jesus at John14:2-3

"The Power And The Hope - Resurrection Sunday" - Inspirational Weekend

There is no greater story than that of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection 2000 years ago.  He died to pay the penalty for our sins so that we are redeemed by His shed blood at Calvary; and His resurrection gives us the assurance that we too will be resurrected to life for eternity with Him if we believe in Jesus as our Savior and believe in His resurrection (Romans 10:9-10,13).   

"Jesus said 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

What a wonderful hope!  Christians are familiar with the Scriptures I will quote here and will hear a sermon this Sunday on the resurrection.   This post is also to give lost sinners who may be reading a reason to hope, a reason to live, and a purpose to their lives.   Without faith in Jesus and in the resurrection, things are hopeless for lost souls.   Without Jesus, a dark judgment awaits sinners.  We all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and deserve punishment.  But Jesus.  Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins (Romans 5:8).  If we repent and confess our sins and live godly lives and put our faith in Christ, there is hope and a sure reason to look forward to being forever with the Lord.

Someone has said, "When Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr, or the blood of one man for another;  it was the life of God poured out to redeem the world."

When you think about it, Christ's resurrection should be celebrated every day.   Without the resurrection of Jesus, there would be no Christianity!  The resurrection gives life to every other area of the gospel truth.   

Be careful that it is not just head knowledge speaking when you say you believe that Jesus rose from the dead; you need to make sure it is coming from the depths of your heart, a true conviction of the reality of the resurrection.   Remember, God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

How grateful we should be, and how we should thank and praise the Lord for the gift of eternal life, and for a Savior who died so that we may live.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."      -  1 Peter 1:3

"Every single shred of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is also evidence for my eventual resurrection."  -  Lee Strobel

Following is a beautiful resurrection hymn:

I pray your focus this Resurrection Sunday is on Jesus and His great love for you and how His rising from the dead shows the hope He gives for all true believers.  (John 3:16)

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

"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."  -  Philippians 3:10-11

"Help My Unbelief" - Inspirational Weekend

"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."  -  Mark 9:24b

These words were spoken by a distraught father because of his son who was demon possessed; this father went to Jesus and spoke these words of weak faith to Him (like a prayer) after Jesus had previously told him, 

"If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."  -  Mark 9:23  

 Many of us can relate to this father's plea.  We believe, yet sometimes doubt creeps in and it can be hard to shake.  Like when Peter believed he could walk on water; he had faith until he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to concentrate on the howling wind and the turbulent waters.  His faith and belief faltered when he took his eyes off of Jesus, and then he began to sink.   When Jesus caught him, He said to Peter:  "Oh thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt?"   -  Matthew 14:22-31

But in the case of the father of the demoniac boy, Jesus did not rebuke the father for his weak faith.  The man tearfully appealed to Jesus, recognizing he did believe but had unbelief or doubts at the same time.   A true sense of the need for grace to believe is the greatest step towards the act of believing.  Perhaps part of this father's unbelief was due to the fact that Jesus' disciples had tried and could not cast out the demon from the boy.  Jesus healed the young man and afterwards was questioned by His disciples as to why they could not successfully heal him.  -  Mark 9:28-29.   In verse 29 Jesus told his disciples that that kind of demon would not come out but by prayer and fasting.

In this dim life we see spiritual things imperfectly, but we should continue on with prayer and Bible study to come to a full, clear knowledge.   Faith and unbelief are often found in the same heart. Full deliverance from doubt only comes by a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  The more intimate and deep your relationship with God, the more you learn to trust Him and the more your faith will grow.   

Unbelief is a criminal thing because it doubts.  Unbelief robs God of His glory in every way and therefore one who has unbelief cannot receive a blessing from the Lord.   Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God.  This is more true of unbelievers (those not born-again), because they are deliberate in their stubborn unbelief.  Christians tend to have doubts which are not deliberate; doubts just creep into our minds out of nowhere, it seems.  But the devil is a master of deception and tries to make us fall by putting doubts in our minds.   Pray to God in Jesus' name for deliverance and pray to have a strong faith.

We doubt because we are fallen creatures, prone to sin.   Divine truth is not yet fully comprehended by us.  Little faith can still trust in Christ as well as great faith can.  One commentator says:  " If your faith is weak, at least let it be sincere and unfeigned  The act of faith is to apply Christ to the soul; and this the weakest faith can do as well as the strongest, if it be true."

"Unbelief is criminal because it is a moral act of the whole nature.  Belief or unbelief is a test of a man's whole spiritual condition, because it is the whole being, affections, will, conscience, as well as the understanding, which are concerned in it." - Alexander MacLaren

Following is a sermon on the sin of unbelief by Charles Spurgeon:

In this sermon, Spurgeon tells us that "Unbelief is the parent of every other iniquity."  I hope you watch the entire 39 minute sermon as it is excellent.  

"Unbelief is never cheap; it costs more than it pays."  -  Andrew Kroll

One commentator said that "nothing is so provoking to God as unbelief, and yet there is nothing to which we are more prone."  When you consider all that the Lord has done, all of His promises and the many times He has answered our prayers, the sacrifice of His Son at Calvary to redeem us and wash us white as snow by the blood of Jesus, and all of His many other blessings including the gift of life itself, who are we to doubt Him ?   What would provoke an earthly father like a child who refuses to believe him?  We are God's children, and we should trust Him and believe in Him in all areas of our lives and in all spiritual matters.  

"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:  he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son."  -  1 John 5:10

Remember what God said to Moses concerning the stubborn and complaining and unbelieving Israelites: "....How long will this people provoke Me?  and how long will it be ere they believe Me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?"  -  Numbers 14:11

We serve a loving and a forgiving God.  He knows we are but dust and how weak we are.   But faith and belief in Jesus can make us strong.   Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  Prayer is a strong faith-builder.

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By  Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  -  Romans 5:1-2

The Future - The Great Tribulation, End Times, Everything Is Converging (With Informative Video)

The best way to know the future is to begin reading your Bible.  In it are many prophecies, most of which have already come to pass. There are approximately 500 prophecies left in the Bible that have not yet been fulfilled; many of which will transpire during the soon 7-year Tribulation period.   There are prophecies being fulfilled now almost on a daily basis.   

When Jesus' disciples asked Him what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age, He replied at Matthew 24:5-7:

"For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars:  see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:  and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places."

Please read all of Matthew 24 to find out about more events to take place in these last days and during the Tribulation period.  Following is a video from prophecywatchers.com   which goes into detail about "The Coming Convergence" and which also discusses end time events.   

In the above video, Brent Miller, Sr., brings to light many interesting tidbits of information, such as the odds are 1 in the 45th power of one man (Jesus) fulfilling even only 16 prophecies about His first coming 2000 years ago.  And there were over 300 prophecies in all that Jesus fulfilled in His first coming.  

Earthquakes and their increasing frequency and magnitude  (6.3 or higher) are not being reported by the U.S. Geological Survey as being a serious concern; they are saying everything is fine.   Things are not fine; things are downright scary.

Many other topics such as the Internet and the New World Order and the Mark of the Beast are also touched upon by Mr. Miller.  Please watch this informative and eye-opening video.   You will comprehend how times are urgent and that we are, indeed, living in the last hour of the last days.   

We need to make sure we are right with the Lord.  We need to repent of our sins and, if you have not already done so, turn to Jesus in faith and total surrender and believe He died for your sins and shed His blood at Calvary so that - if you have faith and believe in Him and in His resurrection- you will be saved and be a child of God.   (John 3:16; Romans 10:9,10,13)  If you do all of that with a sincere and contrite heart, you will be caught up to heaven by Jesus in the Rapture of the church before the 7-year Tribulation begins.   You will escape all of the wrath of God that He will pour out on the ungodly sinners in the Tribulation.   

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."  -  1 Thessalonians 5:9

We need to pray without ceasing, be thankful to God and praise Him, and "abstain from all appearance of evil"  - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24  .   We need to be watching and hoping for the Lord's soon return.   

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."  -  Colossians 3:17

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."  -  1 Thessalonians 5:23

"The Power of Faith, Hope, And Love" - Inspirational Weekend

Faith, hope and love are often found together in the New Testament. One instance is at 1 Thessalonians 1:3 which tells us,

"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;"

Below is an example and explanation of what the triad faith, hope, and love actually mean.

Let's take faith first.  The power of faith produces action.  The Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God  (Hebrews 11:6).  A brand new believer in Jesus as Savior exhibits faith that the Lord is the Messiah and his Redeemer.  As he studies God's Word and is often in prayer, his faith will grow.  Answered prayer is a mighty faith builder.   Belief that we will be with the Lord in heaven one day also takes faith.   

The patriarch Abraham was saved by his faith, not by his works. Romans 4:3 says, "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness."    He followed and obeyed God when the Lord told him to leave his country and go to a land He would show him.  (Hebrews 11:8).  That took faith. What took much faith was when God told Abraham to sacrifice his own son Isaac and Abraham obeyed, but the Lord stopped him from actually killing Isaac.  God was putting Abraham to the test so He could see how strong was Abraham's faith.   

Yes, there is power in faith.  There are many more examples in the Bible of the transforming power of faith, such as Moses and Gideon.   

Then there is the power of hope.   I have shared here previously about how I went through difficult times for a period of about 4 years, and all seemed hopeless to me for a while.   But God.   He put it within my heart to begin reading the Bible again, which began to renew my mind.  I know first-hand the power of hope, because His Word began to give me a hope for something better. Without hope, there appears to be no reason to exist.  You see, without God there is no hope.  The only sound and just object of hope is God Himself.  The hope that Jesus gives and the promises of God can give meaning to your life, can give you a purpose, and a desire to keep-on-keeping-on despite obstacles.     The ultimate hope is one of eternal life with the Lord in heaven.  

"(18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:  (19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail; "  -  Hebrews 6:18-19

You can observe, then, that hope is not whimsical wishful thinking.  When we hope in God, we can rest assured that it is a reliable and true thing.  HE is called the God of hope.

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."   -  Romans 15:13

Now let us consider love.  The most famous and most loved chapter in the Bible about love is 1 Corinthians 13.  Following are the first 3 verses of that chapter:

"(1)Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have no charity, I am nothing. (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

The King James version uses the word "charity" instead of the more appropriate word "love" in the above verses.   The point is obvious: you can do many mighty works and good deeds, but if you do not have love and act out of love, it is to no avail.  Love is above all other gifts....it is preeminent.  (1 Corinthians 13:13).  We should love God and other people more than we love ourselves.   

That brings us to the important fact that God loves us.  

God is love.

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.  God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."  -  1 John 4:16

Following is a sermon by Charles Spurgeon on how much Jesus loves us. 

Jesus loved us so much that he suffered and died for us and shed His blood at Calvary so that all who would believe in Him and His resurrection could have eternal life.   Even when we fall or backslide, Jesus still loves us and is patient with us and willing to forgive us.   We need to repent of and confess all known sin and run to Him for refuge and solace.

"But the God of all grace, Who hath called us into His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."  -  1 Peter 5:10

"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father"     -  Galatians 1:3-4

How To Escape The 7-Year Tribulation

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Some people think we are already in the prophesied Tribulation period.   They need to study their Bible more to discern that that is not the case.  To begin with, the Rapture of the Church has not yet occurred, and that must happen before the Tribulation because the Lord's people are not appointed to wrath.

"Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."  -  Romans 5:9

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."                        -  1 Thessalonians 5:9

The above two Scriptures tell us how to escape the 7-year Tribulation.   We need to be followers of Jesus Christ; we need to be born-again  (John 3:16).   We need to repent of our sins, pray and ask God for forgiveness, and put our faith and trust in Jesus as our Savior, Lord, and Master.   We must put God and Jesus first in our lives.   

"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved."   -  Acts 16:31

"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

Once saved by faith in Jesus, you will be raptured to be with the Lord in heaven sometime soon before the 7-year Tribulation occurs and will be in heaven while the Tribulation is taking place on the earth.   What a blessed hope !   (Titus 2:13).  God is loving and merciful to His people.

Following is a video featuring Gary Stearman and Bob Ulrich of prophecywatchers.com.  It deals with myths of the tribulation, and gives great insight into Scriptures concerning the Tribulation and answers questions such as "The reasons why the Tribulation has to happen."  They also discuss a new DVD they are offering which  is about a girl who wakes up one day and finds herself in the Tribulation period.   

If you read the Book of Revelation in the Bible, you will discern that the Tribulation is full of God's wrath and judgment on the ungodly left on the earth after the true believers in Christ are raptured to heaven.   You do not want to go through the horrors of the time of "Jacob's Trouble"  (Jeremiah 30:7).  Turn in faith to Jesus Christ now before it is too late !

"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.:   -  Ephesians 2:8-9

"The Difference Between The Rapture And The Second Coming" (With Video on the Rapture) - Inspirational Weekend

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Yes, we are living in the last days; and, yes, the Lord's return is imminent.  It could happen at any time; it is impending.  Nothing at all needs to take place before the Rapture of the Church occurs.   If you scoff at all that, you might be interested to know that you were written about in the Bible at 2 Peter 3:3-4 which says,

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

There are about 2500 prophecies in the Bible and 2/3 of them have already been fulfilled.  Therefore, it stands to reason that the remaining 1/3 would also come to pass as well; and that includes the prophecies about the Rapture.  I have written previously about the Rapture of the Church (found here).  I will not repeat myself with all that information again, but I will point out some Scriptures again concerning the Rapture.

Another instance of the Rapture is found at 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

Read John 14:1-6 and in particular verse 3 which says:  "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."   Jesus is here referring to the Rapture as well.  

Jesus returns for His Bride, the Church, before the 7-year Tribulation begins.  There may be a gap of a few years after the Rapture before the Tribulation actually begins. At the end of the Tribulation, there is the Second Coming of Jesus where He destroys the wicked left on earth and then ushers in the Millennial Kingdom.  Below is a simplification of the differences between the two events.

RAPTURE                                                                            SECOND COMING

1) Believers meet Lord in air                .................Believers return to earth with Jesus

(1 Thess. 4:17)                                                      (Revelation 19:14)

2)   Occurs before Tribulation                .............    Occurs after Tribulation 

       (1 Thess. 5:9; Rev. 3:10)                             (Revelation chapters 6 through 19)

3)  Act of deliverance                          ..............   Judgment and destruction of    

     1 Thess. 4:13-17; 5:9)                                       unbelievers  (Matthew 24:40-41;

                                                                                1Thess. 5:3

4) Instant and invisible                        ................  Visible to all

(1 Corin. 15:50-54)                                                 (Rev. 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30)

5)  Imminent; occurs at any time         ..............  Must occur after specific end time 

    (Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:13-18;                         events happen (2 Thess. 2:4;  

     1 Corinthians  15:50-54)                                Matthew 24:15-30; 

                                                                            Revelation chapters 6 to 18)

Following is an excellent video on the Rapture with Ron Rhodes explaining why it must be a pre-tribulation event and other pertinent information we all need to know.  Mr. Rhodes has a wonderful sense of humor and by it he helps to make a point.  

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

"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    

"A Cosmic Tantrum" and Middle-East Update Video

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"When The Spirit of The Age Has a Cosmic Tantrum" is an eye-opening article by Jill Martin Rische concerning current events and the evil found in today's society.  It says that the level of hatred in the world - and in America - is off the charts.  The article gives links to information about such things as after school satan clubs and other topics of interest that we are faced with today.  It also tells us what we can do to make a difference for good in this world. You may read the entire article here   

It is hard to believe how drastically America and this world has changed in the last 10 years, and especially are things radically different than they were 20 years ago.  We are definitely living in the end times the Bible prophesied ....many signs are converging now on almost a daily basis.  Read Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21.

"(1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."  -  2 Timothy 3: 1-5

The above verses in 2 Timothy 3 accurately describe the times we are living in right now.  If this post sounds negative, sometimes we need to clearly see the evil in order to turn from it so that we may realize the truth when we are told the good....the Gospel of Jesus Christ.... and to recognize that only in Him can we find hope, joy, and a future eternal life with Him in Paradise.   

All these end time events taking place right now point us to the soon return of Jesus.  That is something to rejoice over !  

Following is a recent video on Middle-East events by Amir Tsarfati  

In Amir's updates, he always refers us to Scripture.  He has a thriving ministry which takes him all over the world.  He lives in Israel and has excellent sources that keep him updated on the latest current events around the world, but especially in the Middle-East. Remember, Israel is God's prophetic time clock.  God still considers Israel as His special people with whom He made an everlasting covenant in ancient times.   

We live in exciting times, with how Bible prophecy is being fulfilled in front of our eyes !  It is time to get right with the Lord and be ready for His return.  Confess your sins, repent and ask for forgiveness; surrender your life to Jesus and put His will first in your life.   

Tomorrow may be too late !

"....except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."  - Jesus at Luke 13:3b

"How To Be Courageous" - Inspirational Weekend

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Courage is when someone's heart moves them to do something brave.  Dr. Charles Stanley defines courage thus, "The quality of mind or spirit enabling us to meet danger, face opposition, or the challenges of life with fearlessness, calmness, and firmness."

This post will focus on Biblical courage, which relies upon the power of God to strengthen us and to help us demonstrate courage as befits children of God.  It takes courage to "be different" and to take a stand for what is true and righteous while living in a wicked and selfish and materialistic world.  It takes courage to suffer persecution and insults because of your faith.  God is there to help you in all of your trials.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"  - Psalm 27:1

"Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart:  wait, I say, on the LORD."  -  Psalm 27:14

The two verses above (and the Holy Spirit) have helped me to be strong and to face opposition.  Waiting on the Lord will build your faith and strengthen you as you let God be God and wait for His guidance and His help.   He is in control and knows the end from the beginning and what the future holds.  His plan is best.  Trust Him. 

Hebrews 13:5b also says that God "will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  How comforting.  God and Jesus are always with you.  That knowledge alone will give you courage.  As a child I was moved around from one relative to another; as an adult I have been forsaken by my husband.  These verses, Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5, fill my heart with love and gratitude for the Lord's tender care and His promises.  I can trust God.  He will not abandon me nor forsake me.

I was shy, fearful, and insecure as a child and as a young adult.  The good Lord has worked mightily in my behalf and when I look back on how many times He has "rescued" me, it has built my faith and trust in Him.  He has given me the courage to face the obstacles.  It is all by the grace of God and not any of my doing.   

"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."  -  Philippians 4:13

In short, to be courageous, you need to have faith in the good Lord. The Holy Spirit will guide you and help you.  You need to have a close, personal, intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  That relationship is built by prayer and Bible study. You need to have faith and believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord and Master.  

"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

"(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."   -  Romans 10: 9,10,13

 Dr. Stanley tells us that the key to courage and to live your life acceptably is to mediate on God's Word day and night.  (Joshua 1:8)

One example in the Bible of courage in action is one we are all familiar with:  the story of David and Goliath.   David trusted in the Lord because of how he had been helped by God in the past to be delivered from a lion and also from a bear.  He had faith and therefore courage to slay the giant, knowing the Lord would help him this time as well.  (1 Samuel 17).

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point."  -  C. S. Lewis

"Even a coward can praise Christ, but it takes a man of courage to follow Him."  - Unknown

"Have courage for the great sorrows in life, and patience for the small ones.  And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace.  God is awake."   -  Victor Hugo

"Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."  -  Joshua 1:9

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

  

"Wait....Be Still And Be Quiet" - Inspirational Weekend

One time when I was very upset and agitated (with good reason), I plopped myself down on the sofa and repeated the verse above over and over to try to calm myself down.  The Lord blessed my efforts by causing me to fall into a deep sleep almost immediately, and when I awoke I felt a strong sense of peace.   Now I still repeat Psalm 46:10 by saying, "Be still and know that You are God."  It has a calming peace about it to say it out loud.  The Holy Word of God has power !  It can transform anyone from the clutches of the wicked world and the power of satan and mold them into a mild and humble child of God; a life from wickedness to a godly life; a life from loud and unruly actions and brazen speech into a gentle and meek and quiet spirit.

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  -  Romans 12:2

In Psalm 46:10, to "be still" means to stop, to cease striving.  In today's hustle and bustle world, people are constantly on the go and busy, busy, all the time.  Even many Christians do not take time to pray or study the Bible because of their hectic schedules.  This should not be so.  Sadly, even some who call themselves Christians put their careers first and foremost, always striving and they seldom call upon the Lord. Before I was born-again, I was guilty of putting my career first before anyone or anything.  Now I am more happy doing the Lord's work than I ever was previously. There is also a considerable amount of peace within your soul when you know you are in right standing with God and Jesus.

Tied in with being still and quiet, is the willingness to wait upon the Lord.  Andrew Murray says that, "quietness is an element of true waiting on God.  ......But when it is seen that the waiting on God is itself an unspeakable blessedness, one of the highest forms of fellowship with the Holy One, the adoration of Him in His glory will of necessity humble the soul into a holy stillness, making way for God to speak and reveal Himself."

The quote above by Andrew Murray is from his book/devotional "Waiting on God"  .  It is an excellent rendition on the subject of waiting on God and you may still find it here .

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord."  -   Psalm 27:14

Sometime ago I wrote about how waiting can be good and I quoted Charles Spurgeon who said, "If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for.  The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes.  The Lord's people have always been a waiting people."

Following is a sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon titled "Waiting Only Upon God".  It seems to fit including it here because waiting on God involves stillness and a quiet hope.

So, to wait for the Lord is to be done in quietness and stillness. That shows faith.  Don't jump blindly into something or say something you may regret later.....wait on God to show the way.

"Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly."  -  Acts 19:36

Following is a 49 minute sermon by Charles R. Swindoll on being still and being quiet:

You must be still in order to sense God's presence - whether in prayer or in Bible reading  It is hard sometimes because even then our minds tend to wander, but we need to focus as much as we possibly can on the Lord and in reverent fear and with a sense of His sovereignty and majesty. Be still in your humble heart and realize God is your Creator, your Lord and Master, as is Jesus, and give Him honor and respect as you pray and as you wait for Him in all matters.     

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him."  -  Psalm 62:5

God responds to a meek and quiet spirit. It is pleasing to Him to see us as being meek and quiet.  No one likes a loud and brash person; God is no different, except He is more patient than we are.  God is love, and in His great love He does not wish any to perish, but to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to believe in the heart that He is the Savior who can wash away all of our sins....and that includes even the brash person, the person we may give up on. God is forgiving.

"But (let it be) the hidden man of the heart, in which is not corruptible, (even the ornament) of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."  -  1 Peter 3:4

We have seen that to be still (as in Psalm 46:10), involves to "cease striving"; to let God be God and let Him be in control of our lives.  Not frantically pursuing endeavors contrary to God's will.  Just to simply rest in the Lord and to wait for Him.

Be still.
Be quiet.

"It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."  -  Lamentations 3:26

"For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy one of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength......"    -  Isaiah 30:15   

"And say unto him, take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted..."  Isaiah 7:4a

Iran Soon To Have Nuclear Weapons - Israel Cannot Destroy Iran's Nuclear Reactors !

I have said many times that Israel is God's prophetic time clock. The Lord made an everlasting covenant with Israel in ancient days, and He considers them His covenant people, His chosen people, to this very day.  Bible prophecy revolves around the Jewish nation.   And no, the Church did not replace Israel as some proclaim.  The heavenly Father will soon rapture the Church to heaven by Jesus Christ.   Except for Messianic Jews, the Jewish people will be left to go through the 7 - year tribulation period after the Rapture of true believers, which is very, very near.  Two thirds of Israel will perish during the tribulation period, but at the end the remnant will come to know Jesus Christ.  (Zechariah 12 and 14).

I strongly urge you to read Ezekiel 38 and 39.  Current events are a precursor to the Rapture and the Battle of Gog and Magog. These are the end times, the last days.

Following is a very recent video by Amir Tsarfati concerning the Middle East situation.  Israel is very vulnerable right now as things are escalating in the nations of that part of the world.  Amir discusses Iran, Syria, the Russians, Iran's nuclear reactors, and much more in this 20 minute video.

The churches today, or many of them, are just downright lukewarm. This is partly due to the fact that the pastors are not preaching the Rapture and end times Bible prophecy.  Most Christians do not realize where we are on the prophetic time clock.  It is urgent for them to wake up and be watchful and ready for the Lord Jesus Christ to return to take them home to heaven.   Prophecy is not on hold.  God is in control and things are not falling apart, but instead are coming together exactly as prophesied.

Now is the time to surrender your life to Jesus and His will.  Repent of your sins and ask the Lord to forgive you.  It is the time to be walking ever so closely in Jesus' footsteps and to be busy doing the Lord's work and spreading the Gospel.  Live a godly life and serve others, thereby also serving the Lord.

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."  -  I Thessalonians 5:6

"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."  -  Jesus at Matthew 24:42