Author: Michael Young, Sr.

I am a practicing Christian, a disciple of Jesus, a husband of over 50 years, a father and a grandfather, a business man, a veteran and a friend to all who will have me. I have served or am serving, at various times, as an Evangelist, a Pulpit fill pastor, an Associate Pastor of Evangelism and as Senior Pastor of a church plant. My passion is for practicing and teaching the Bible, building small groups, reaching the lost with the message of the Gospel of Jesus, recovering the straying Sheep of God and the gathering together the Called of God, in neighborhoods, business settings and in churches by equipping other Christians. I have authored a few small books and I have a background in professional business management, finance and investments. I am glad to meet you, even if it is virtually. Write me at any time and let's become friends.

KNOW THE PLAYERS – Christianity vs Paganism

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

It may seem strange to use the word, “Pagan”, to describe someone or an entire group of people. It is such a misunderstood and archaic term. But it is exactly the right word to use here.

Pagans are diverse and varied people. The term Pagan comes from the Latin word paganus, which means “country dweller”; paganism can refer to polytheism, (the belief in many gods), or the worship of more than one god, such as in ancient Rome. A pagan is also considered to be one who, for the most part, has no religion and indulges in worldly delights and material possessions; someone who revels in sensual pleasures; a hedonistic or self-indulgent individual.

Another, more modern term is neo-paganism, which refers to some of the contemporary forms of paganism such as Wicca, Druidry, and Gwyddon.

Modern “pagan” practices are actually similar to their ancient counterparts in that they rely heavily on hedonism—sensual gratification and self-indulgence and the pursuit of happiness and pleasure to the exclusion of everything else. In ancient times, sexual ceremonies were a major part of pagan religions. The Old Testament references these perverted religions in such passages as Deuteronomy 23:17, Amos 2:7–8, and Isaiah 57:7–8.

Though they are numerous and varied in their practices and beliefs, pagans do hold to some similar beliefs. For example:

  • The physical world is a good place, one to be taken pleasure in by everyone.
    • Everyone is considered to be part of this Mother Earth.
    • Divinity reveals itself in every facet of the world.
    • Every being, man and animal, is a derivative of the Divine. As such, all are gods and goddess.
    • Most pagan religions do not have gurus or messiahs.
    • Doctrine is superseded by one’s own responsibility.
    • Solar and lunar cycles are significant in pagan worship.

From a Christian viewpoint, pagans are generally characterized as those who are caught up in any religious ceremony, act, or practice that is not distinctly Christian. Correspondingly, Jews and Muslims also use the term pagans to describe those outside their religion. Others define the term paganism as any religion outside of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity; whereas some argue that a pagan is anyone with no religion at all.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Furthermore, since they, (pagans), did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28).

In spite of common assumptions, most pagan worshipers claim they don’t believe in Satan. However, there’s no question that Satan is their chief source of influence and control. Though they will deny it, they deify him in their worldly and sensual practices. Paul tells us plainly how Satan works in the lives of people without God, through his power, his signs, his deceit, and his lies:

Finally, Pagans can seem to be good guys, too, (although a lot of ‘good guys and gals’ won’t escape the coming wrath). Let’s remember, as Christians, our quarrel is not with the flesh and blood person. Our quarrel is with “the rulers, the powers, the world forces of darkness, the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” that directs their thoughts and actions.

This can be a tough distinction to make when you are face-to-face with a quarrelsome and antagonistic person or when interacting with a ‘free spirit’ type who lives only for fun and pleasure and finds any discipline too restrictive. It helps to relax and remember, “IT IS GOD’S JOB TO SAVE THEM”. You and I are just the messenger.

Now, how about CHRISTIANITY?

Biblically speaking, Christians are those who are forgiven of their sins and who have entered a personal relationship with Almighty God through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 10:9–10). In order to become a Christian, a person must fully accept as part of his or her own personal worldview the following core beliefs:

Let’s simplify this. A Christian is a disciple, a student and a follower of Jesus. A Christian “get’s up-close and personal” with Jesus. They follow Him around in order to learn to think like Him in order to be like Him. They are recognized as having been with Jesus and the longer you are with Him, something amazing happens. The Spirit of God takes up residence within your mind, heart, soul and spirit and you are no longer your own. You are His.

So, when encountering a Pagan, you will find they are a lot like you in many ways. On the other hand, they are nothing like you. To avoid confusion, just stay focused on Jesus. Show interest in the person you encounter, but always remember, you are ON MISSION with JesusA.

CAN YOU BE BOTH CHRISTIAN AND PAGAN? 

Finally, can you profess Christianity and still hold on to some of the traits and practices of Paganism?  (Be honest with yourself here.) Many confessing Christians do that very thing. They actually say one thing and then do both! So, what does that mean for you?

First, you may find it helpful to compare the two.

PAGANISM as contrasted to CHRISTIANITY

  • The physical world is a good place, one to be taken pleasure in by everyone.
  • The physical world is fallen and, for now, is ruled by Satan. (1 John 5:19)
  • There is pleasure to be found in the world, but as Christians we are strangers to this world, scattered about, being distressed by various trials for the proving of our faith until Jesus returns. (1 Peter 1:1-9, Matthew 24:29-31)
  • Divinity reveals itself in every facet of the world.
  • The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun. (Psalms 19:1-4), but the Bible says we are to worship only God, and not to worship His creation (Romans 1:25).
  • Every being, man and animal, is a derivative of the Divine. As such, all are gods and goddess.
  • We are made in the image of God but with a flaw and afflicted by the curse of sin and condemned to eternal damnation. It is only by being born again by the Spirit of God by His grace and great mercy and through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, are we to be saved from destruction.
  • Some false religions and cults teach that we are ‘made in his image’ and that we become like gods. This is a twisting, a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the Bible which says ‘we will become like Him’.
  • Doctrine is superseded by one’s own responsibility.
  • There is a way that seems right to a person, but ends in death. (Proverbs 14:12)
  • Our good deeds are no better than filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)
  • God will judge us by our deeds. (Romans 2:6)

God says, “I Am a jealouse God”, and that Christians shall have no other god. This is an absolute. Still, many indulge themselves in forms of hedonism and spiritual duality. Playing on God’s Grace at this point is a dangerous game. Beware.

Again, scriptures say, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but ends in death.” Proverbs 14:12).

The Apostle Paul emphasizes “the whole counsel of God” as a way to affirm the completion of his duties toward the Ephesians and to remind them of the Truth, WHICH IS ALSO OURS TO AFFIRM TO THE WORLD AROUND US.

Paul warns, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!” (Acts 20:29–31).

The whole counsel of God includes some things that are difficult to hear—the fact that we are dead in sin and deserving of God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:1–3) and the fact that we cannot save ourselves through works (Ephesians 2:8–9). The gospel is a call to repentance and faith. Believers will face persecution (John 16:33) and likely be considered foolish. But none of these things can dissuade us.

We should follow Paul’s example and also preach and live the whole counsel of God. All Scripture is inspired, and all of it is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16). We must preach it and live it in its entirety and allow the Holy Spirit to use His sword as He sees fit (Ephesians 6:17). Paul did not share half-truths or only parts of the gospel; rather, he shared all of what God has revealed. We must do the same. (see GotQuestions.Org)

The Bible warns us of this ‘Deluding Influence’, “the mystery of lawlessness which is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He, (The Holy Spirit), is removed. Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved.  For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,  in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (2 Thesslonians 2:7-12)

In these Last Days, as the Bible says, the spirit of antichrist is present. False christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

We must hold fast to the example of sound words which we have heard and in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 

Let’s not forget to pray for one another as the Day of our Lord draws near.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

 

BEHOLD, I AM COMING QUICKLY

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Revelation 1:1, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, Verse 2, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. Verse 3. Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

The Book of The Revelation was written around 95 A.D.  Jesus had already ascended to the Father and had put the End of Days into motion.

Revelation, chapter 1, verses one through three tell us:

  1. This is a revealing by God to His Son, Jesus, so He could show us, His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place, which mean it will happen soon, and it will happen quickly. (This has to do with the speed with which something happens.)

2. This message and these words were communicated to John by His angel, who then testified to this word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw.

3. The time for the fulfillment of these things is near, which has to do with the passage of time; it is very soon; the time is near; the time is at hand! (this was as of A.D. 95).

Revelation 3:11, “I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Verse 12. The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.”

John has testified and written what Jesus has announced:

1. Jesus words are actually a warning and a threat. He is saying that He is coming speedily, without warning, without delay, suddenly and by surprise.

Jesus warns, again, that His coming will occur as fast as ‘the blink of an eye’.  (Matthew 24:25), “Behold, I have told you in advance, if they say to you, ‘He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man.”

The time to prepare is NOW. There will be no time to prepare in that day.

PLEASE NOTE: Please do not think that the Bible is saying, “that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day” in these verses, (found in 2 Peter 3:8). When Jesus said “Behold, I am coming quickly”, it is not His intention to say it could be a day, or it could be a thousand years. He is saying it could happen at any time. His coming is imminent.

“For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or like a watch in the night”, found in 2 Peter 3:8, which is a reference to Psalm 90:4, is a reference to God’s POINT OF VIEW or FRAME OF REFERENCE and NOT a reference to the actual passage of a specific period of time.

He IS SAYING that that time has come. It is not coincidental that we find the Apostles teaching that ‘The Last Days’ had begun as early as A.D. 30:

There is, however, a sequence of events which must occur, in order, and may overlap in time:

Matthew 24:9. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.”

(This is so clear and in such plain language, I regret having to point it out:  “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death”.  So, “YOU  WILL BE DELIVERED UP TO TRIBULATION”.  How much more intense can this be, than being put to death for Jesus name’s sake? The tribulation, Seals 1 through 4 have been described as having started, by Jesus, Himself, in the year AD 30.)

Verse 10. “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

(First – This is the hallmark of the Great Apostasy, found in these verses and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4. Furthermore, “And then” translates from the Greek word, “tote”, in this case means of the future, also in consecution, i.e., the act of following, or the condition of being in a series; that which is consecutive; succession; sequence.

 (Secondly – “fall away” is the Greek word ‘skandalizó’ and means to entrap, i.e., trip up (figuratively, stumble) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure).

This is further explained in the following verses and can also be found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4. For more detail see“Has the Great Apostasy begun?”)

Verse 11.  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. Verse 12. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. Verse 13. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Verse 14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

(Verses 11 through 14 give us a major time line identifier through a concurrence of events: (1) many false prophets will arise and lead many astray; (2) lawlessness will be increased; (3) the love of many will grow cold.)

(“The one who endures to the end”, must be kept in context of the surrounding verses.  So, the one who endures to the end of these events – Which Events? – The tribulation seals ONE through FIVE)

(“And then the end will come”.  Once again, this is clear, plain, face-value language. After these first FIVE TRIBULATION SEALS, which began in or around AD 30, and have continued progressively to overlap and gain in intensity, THE END WILL COME.)

Matthew 24:29, says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.”

(Perhaps it would be a good idea to read this verse again. It begins with “IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation of those days”.  This is rich with information.

( “The tribulation of THOSE DAYS” are the days from around A.D. 30 through the current day; This includes tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE.)

(“Immediately after the tribulation of those days”, should explain itself.  But, just in case, let me say, “THOSE DAYS” refers to the days already discussed (tribulation Seals One through Five). 

Now , Jesus is moving our attention to what follows the first 5 Seals of the tribulation:  THE SIXTH SEAL.)

(“The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light” is also found in Revelation 6:12-16, and uses the exact language.  It is the SIXTH SEAL of the tribulation, which is yet a FUTURE EVENT.)

NOTE:  ANYONE, SUCH AS THE ‘PRETERSITS’ , WHO SUGGESTS OR SAY THAT THESE VERSES ARE SIMPLY METAPHORICAL OR HAVE ALREADY OCCURED AND WILL NOT PLAY OUT AS DESCRIBED, ARE FALSE PROPHETS, FALSE TEACHERS AND ARE AIDING THE SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST. (Other places in Revelation, you will find metaphors, allegories, imagery and similes to describe what was indescribable, such as, “The Lamb of God” to describe Jesus, “The Dragon” to describe Satan, or “The Four Beasts” to describe Satan, Babylon and Lucifer. The reader must learn to distinguish the difference.)

Many protestant pastors, preachers and Bible teachers adhere firmly to the John Nelson Darby version of the pre-tribulation rapture. These people with good intentions and most are good men and women, yet, they are sorely misinformed; or, perhaps, some are lazy in their study of scriptures or they could be ignorant about what scriptures say and mean. None-the-less, they are guilty of false teaching and of teaching a false prophecy. (I know this sounds harsh and perhaps even arrogant, please forgive me. But this matter is so very urgent that I believe strongs words and a stronger empasis is needed.)

What I have described is generally known as the Pre-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church. Here is a link and several videos and teachings explaining the Pre-Tribulation Pre Wrath Rapture of the Church. PLEASE watch.

Please hear me, friends. Things are getting worse, even as I write this, and, things are going to get a lot worse as the time of the Rapture (The 6th Tribulation Seal) draws near.  You and I need to prepare, both Spiritually and physically, for these difficult times.

I have presented the Spiritual side of the coming day of the Great Tribulation and of the coming day of God’s Wrath in this article.

 Please go to these links, “New World Order”, also, “Agenda-21, Cover of the U.N., One World Government”, and Agenda 2030, find the physical and earthly manifestation of this cosmic battle and of the spirit of anti-Christ, which is already at work.

The Bible tells us to be ready, for we do not know the day nor the hour when the Lord will return, and if you did know, you would be on the alert, “and would not have allowed your house to be broken into”. For the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

In conclusion, let me ask you, if you knew a hurricane or a major destructive storm was coming, what would you do to get ready?  (Please answer this.  Make a short list using these lines).  I would:

1.

2.                                                                                                                              

3.                                                                                                                              

4.                                                                                                                              

Well, A Major ‘Storm’ is Arriving as I write these words.  We must be ready!

 Your Brother and Friend

 Mike Young

Additional resource:  When does the 7 Years begin?

PS:  What we should be doing while we expectantly await His Return to take us to our Eternal Home?:

IMPORTANT FOOTNOTE:  Don’t be deceived.  There is only ONE Second Coming of Christ.  There will be only ONE Rapture.  There will be only ONE Armageddon.

Know your Bible.  Know the sequence.  Be Ready, found doing as He has said.  Endure to the end and be saved !!

The 2nd Advent of Christ (the second coming of Jesus) is one event which can be seen from TWO PERSPECTIVES:  One perspective as seen from the earth;  the other perspective, from John’s prophetic vision, is seen as it unfolds  – a Spiritual and Heavenly perspective!

Look at it this way:   When Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. it was a category 5 storm;  As Irma progressed up the peninsula of Florida, it became a category 4 storm;  then as it entered Alabama it became a category 3 storm;  and finally as it entered Georgia, Irma became a tropical storm; and later as it entered Tennessee, it became a rain event.

To those in the various states which hurricane Irma entered, it would have appeared to them that Irma might have been 5 different storms, occurring consecutively; first a Category 5 storm, then, a Category 4 storm, then, a Category 3 hurricane, then, a Tropical storm, and, finally, a rain event.  But if viewed “From Above” it was ONE CONTINUOUS STORM, progressively unfolding to its conclusion.

SO IT IS WITH THE ‘LAST DAYS’ AND THE 2nd COMING OF JESUS as seen in the breaking of the ‘Seven Seals of the Book’ as recorded in Revelation chapters 5,6,7 and 8; although, the breaking of each Seal may seem like seven different events, if viewed “from above” it is ONE CONTINUOUS EVENT (eschatological STORM), progressively unfolding to its conclusion.

  • Breaking of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation,
  • The beginning of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord,
  • The beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week also known as the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation,
  • Jesus’ SECOND ADVENT,
  • The Rapture of the Church,
  • The heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True,
  • From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and
  • He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty

Why does it matter?

  • Jesus tells us that it matters because we must ‘endure to the end’ and know the sequence of events will help us to ‘not lose heart and faint’.
  • The apostle Paul tells us that it matters, because “God takes no pleasure in the one who shrinks back”, and knowing that our ‘salvation draw near’ will help us endure to the end.
  • Jesus tells us it matters and that we must stay alert be found doing what He has commanded when He returns, or we may be “assigned a place with the hypocrites”. Knowing the day is near will help us stay focused and ready for His return.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Additional Reading:

THE END OF THE AGE?

THE JOURNEY TOWARD PERFECTION – Prophecy, World History, The Tribulation.

 

STAND FIRM

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Are Christians allowing themselves to be led by sheep instead of being led by     The Lion of Judah?

Someplace along the way, over the last two thousand years, it seems that many of the people calling themselves Christians, have come to assume that Jesus was either some kind of a ‘progressive left-wing ideologue’ or a pacifist and have modeled their lives as such. Let’s be crystal clear: Both assumptions are wrong. Dead wrong! (If you are thinking, “I don’t believe either one of those attributes about Jesus”, then, please take this little test, just to make certain:

PART 1.
The Bible CONTAINS the Word of God. We can subjectively pick and choose what parts of the Bible are true.  YES    . NO    .
Jesus Christ was a GOOD MAN, probably the BEST MAN that has ever lived, but He was not necessarily God.   YES    . NO     .
The birth of Jesus Christ was NATURAL and not SUPERNATURAL.   YES    .  NO    .
God is the FATHER OF ALL MEN and not just Christians.  YES    .  NO    .
Man is the product of EVOLUTION  YES    .  NO    .
Man is the unfortunate VICTIM of heredity and environment, but through self-culture and self effort, he can save himself.  YES    .  NO    .
There are MANY ROADS that lead to Heaven  YES    .  NO    .
ALL PEOPLE WILL EVENTUALLY BE SAVED   YES    .  NO    .
PART 2.
A loving God would never condemn anyone to hell. YES    .  NO    .
The judgment and wrath of God was Old Testament. YES    .  NO    .
It is OK to have “MANY FAITHS” and “many faith expressions”  YES    .  NO   .
It is OK to UNITE all churches and all faiths to believe in God.  YES    . NO    .
THE GOSPEL is equal to Social action  YES    .  NO    .
It is OK to meet a person’s PHYSICAL NEEDS (food, clothing, medicine, etc.) without giving the Gospel message. YES    .  NO    .
Concerning the RESURRECTION: Jesus did not literally come back from the dead, it was “The influence and example of Jesus that lives on” YES    .  NO  .
THE PROPHETIC TEACHING of the second coming of Christ is all allegory. YES    .  NO    .
Jesus was a good man and a good teacher, but, He is not God. YES    . NO    .

IF YOU ANSWERED “YES” TO MORE THAN ONE QUESTION, PLEASE GO TO THESE LINKS. READ, PRAY AND THINK.

Christianity and socialism

Christianity and communism

 Bible hub.com

The examples being set by many post-modern preachers and pastors is appalling. Their agenda and practice ranges from CEO-types, dictators and control-freaks, to showmen, and the timid pacifist. (Finding an authentic ‘Fully devoted follower of Jesus styled pastor’ is a tough assignment. But, they are out there, and I strongly suggest you keep looking until you find one. And, for your own sake, don’t put anything ahead of finding a Church and pastor who models and follows the One and Only, Jesus.)

You may be asking, “So, what does the REAL JESUS look like?” It would take more time and space than I can afford at this time to describe all of the characteristics and traits of Jesus, found in the Bible. But, referring to Him as ‘The Lion of Judah’ will get started in the right direction. You can do that in your spare time. I want to focus on just one trait: The dependability and resolve of Jesus.

WHY DID JESUS COME INTO THE WORLD?

 1. TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH

John 18:37 “Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”  

 2. TO BRING A SWORD

Matthew 10:34, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Verse 35, For I came to TURN A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; verse 36, and A PERSON’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.” 

  3. TO FULFILL THE LAW

Matthew 5:17 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.”  

 4. TO CALL SINNERS

Mark 2:17 “And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

 5. TO SAVE THE WORLD

John 12:47 If anyone hears My teachings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”  

 6. TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH

Luke 12:49 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! Verse 50,  But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Verse 51, Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather to create division;  

 “WHAT HE REALLY MEANT?”

John 14:12 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

I have heard so many preachers and bible teachers try to justify or explain away these Words of Jesus because they just cannot fathom the gentle and sweet ‘dashboard Jesus’ saying such things as we find in the verses cited.  These same confused preachers really get tied in a knot over John 14:12.  They will begin their commentary of teaching it with, “what this really means is…”.

Jesus said what He meant and meant exactly what He said.  We need to get over it and get on with it.

 Jesus’ time on earth was spent fulfilling the purpose, and will of His Father (Matthew 5:19, Matthew 5:39). Jesus was on a singular mission (John 6 :38) and nothing would stand in the way of accomplishing that mission: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus had a divine appointment with a cruel Roman cross. Read what He said when Peter proposed to get in the way of His mission:

Matthew 16:21– 23, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.”But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

Jesus always, taught the Will of His Father, then, demonstrated what He taught. He expects us to do the same. Ephesians, chapter six, gives us a clear teaching and picture of the type of preparation and resolve we are to assume.

Strong’s Concordance: STAND FIRM (histémi): to make to stand, to stand

Definition: to make to stand, to stand

Usage: make to stand; set up and establish, to appoint; stand ready, stand firm, be steadfast.

Continue safe and sound, stand unharmed: Acts 26:22.

Stand ready or prepared: Ephesians 6:14.

Be of a steadfast mind; 1 Corinthians 10:12.

(Who does not hesitate, does not waver, of one who vanquishes his adversaries and holds the ground, also of one who in the midst of the fight holds his position against the foe, to persist, continue, persevere: (so as not to fall from thy faith).

Ephesians 6:10-17, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Jesus’ demonstration of steadfast, unmovable courage:

CONFRONTING THE STORM

  Mark 4:35-41, “On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

CONFRONTING DEMONS

Luke 8:26-33 “Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.

“Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.”

 BEFORE PILATE

John 19:8-12  ”Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”

BEFORE THE SANHEDREN

Matthew 24:57-67, “Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

“Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, 61 and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?”  But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”  Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;  what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!” Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him.”  

Jesus did not draw back.  He proceeded boldly to the Cross and secured our salvation!

Remember, Jesus came to earth for these stated reasons:

TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH. This, too, is our calling!

TO BRING A SWORD. This, too, is our calling!

 TO FULFILL THE LAW. This, too, is our calling!

TO CALL SINNERS. This, too, is our calling!

TO SAVE THE WORLD through Jesus. In a very real sense, this, too, is our calling, by lifting the Name of Jesus, telling others and leading them to Him

TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH. This, too, is our calling!

Don’t be led or misled by the sheep. Follow the Lion of Judah!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

AS JESUS’ DISCIPLE – Lesson #1

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

WHAT WOULD YOU LOOK LIKE?

  • Repent

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

The greatest pronouncement and call to readiness for all Christians:  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The hour has arrived.  Final preparations are being made.  Ready yourself for the Heaven’s final assault upon the earth.  Satan is to be defeated, and you and I are part of God’s invading force.

This is not a metaphor.  It is not hyperbole.  It is the literal call from God through His Son, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Repent, in the Biblical sense, literally means, “To change one’s mind; to change one’s mind for the better” and it comes from two root words which mean, “Hereafter, have this understanding or perception”.

Repenting is the act of changing your mind which means your mindset, your values, and your worldview is changed.  Some would say you then live by new standards.  But it is much greater than just living by new standards.

A person of sound mind cannot simultaneously think one thing and do another, repentance results in a complete change of mind and direction of one’s life.

Another way of saying this is, “As a man or woman thinks, so are they”.

BOTH A COMMAND AND A PROPHETIC WORD

Interestingly, Jesus, the Son of God, in fact God Himself, said these very words which are recorded in Matthew 4:17.  Remembering, this is both a Command and a prophetic Word from God.

Jesus said this is what we are to do – Repent – in order to become His disciple and to follow Him, and, this is what will happen is we repent.

The disciples echoed and repeated these very words as they continued to do the Works of God, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is now at hand”.

Jesus says for each of us to Repent as an act of our will and that Repentance will allow the Holy Spirit to come into our bodies, our minds and regenerate our spirits.  We will become One with Him.

Our fleshly desires begin to fade and our new desires emanate from the Holy Spirit of God.  It is not us producing Spiritual Fruit, it is from The Holy Spirit, and it should pour out of us, liberally.

We begin to desire the Things of God.  We are made new and we can now walk with certainty, with purpose and power in our New Life.
MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Once we Repent, our new desires move us to a new way of living, new actions, which are the direct manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance means it is no longer you, or I who live, but it is Christ, literally, living in us.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”

If you are living in the sin of doubt or fear,  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

If you are living under the oppression of poverty, sickness, lack or want, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Rise up.  Proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness, help all who are ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; heal them all.  Matthew 4:24

Go and tell others this exceedingly Good News, telling them to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

HOW WILL YOU DO IT?                                                                            

 HOW WILL YOU TEACH IT?                                                                    

Your Brother and Friend,

 Mike Young

YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW HIM, FOR REAL

A CALL TO ARMS – PART 2

PERFECTION – Chapter 17 – Natural Order

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

CHARLES SAYS

“NO!”

The course and development of nature is important in following our timeline of events from creation to the End of the Age in order to discover and reasonably conclude,

(1).  If Bible prophecy gives adequate and credible evidence of a coming cataclysm of the heavens and the earth which can be corroborated as a trajectory of past and present sequential events, leading to a future apocalyptic event, and

(2).  To determine if God actually exists and is the Creator, otherwise we are truly careening though time and space with no direction, no meaning and no hope, and,

(3).  To determine why the Globalist-Marxist movement insists on aggressively promoting climate initiatives ahead of democracy and human rights initiatives.

If we are right, that the Globalist-Marxist and United Nation’s agenda includes mischaracterizing and politicizing climate change to achieve their goals of world domination (see Agenda 2030), then we can proceed with confidence with what the Bible says.

The Bible says the climate is changing according to God’s predetermined plan to suit His agenda, which is to exact judgement on the earth through nature. It is God’s stated intent, after judging the earth and its inhabitants, to destroy the existing heavens and earth and to create and inhabit a new heaven and a new earth – perfect in every sense.

We are exploring our place on that timescale, both eschatological and through natural and physical scientific reports.  We are reviewing what these should look like based on what we find and how can navigate these exciting but extremely dangerous days.

At the root of the long-running debate, which is more like a war, raging over creation versus evolution is a denial of and an attack on the existence of God. In other words, did God create the heavens, the earth and everything in the earth, or did everything just appear and evolve into what we see today? The Communist manifesto states clearly that any concept of God cannot exist for Global Marxism to survive.

Men like Charles Darwin, (1809-1882), and Carl Sagan, (1934-1986 ), have vehemently proposed and propounded the theory of evolution as superior to, and if fact, in place of the Biblical account of creation. So vehement are they, that the debate has become a full-scale assault on God, Christianity and the Bible.

As we have previously stated, the ‘construct and progression’ of these events, throughout all of the secular and Biblical history, have been framed by:

(1.)  SOCIAL EVOLUTION,

 

(2.)  THE COURSE AND DEVELOPMENT OF NATURE,

 

(3.)  GOD’S INTERVENTION,

 

(4.)  POLITICAL CONSTRUCTS.

 

We have briefly covered the concept of Social Evolution, now we will review The Development of  Nature, and we will start with Evolution, the darling of the Globalist-Marxist:

(Blue italicized text on this page is an excerpt taken from AllAboutScience.org)

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is the widely held notion that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor: the birds and the bananas, the fishes and the flowers — all related. Darwin’s general theory presumes the development of life from non-life and stresses a purely naturalistic (undirected) “descent with modification”. That is, complex creatures evolve from more simplistic ancestors naturally over time. In a nutshell, as random genetic mutations occur within an organism’s genetic code, the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival — a process known as “natural selection.” These beneficial mutations are passed on to the next generation. Over time, beneficial mutations accumulate and the result is an entirely different organism (not just a variation of the original, but an entirely different creature).

 Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a slow gradual process. Darwin wrote, “…Natural selection acts only by taking advantage of slight successive variations; she can never take a great and sudden leap, but must advance by short and sure, though slow steps.” [1] Thus, Darwin conceded that, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” [2] Such a complex organ would be known as an “irreducibly complex system”. An irreducibly complex system is one composed of multiple parts, all of which are necessary for the system to function. If even one part is missing, the entire system will fail to function. Every individual part is integral. [3] Thus, such a system could not have evolved slowly, piece by piece. The common mousetrap is an everyday non-biological example of irreducible complexity. It is composed of five basic parts: a catch (to hold the bait), a powerful spring, a thin rod called “the hammer,” a holding bar to secure the hammer in place, and a platform to mount the trap. If any one of these parts is missing, the mechanism will not work. Each individual part is integral. The mousetrap is irreducibly complex.

 “Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a theory in crisis in light of the tremendous advances we’ve made in molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics over the past fifty years. We now know that there are in fact tens of thousands of irreducibly complex systems on the cellular level. Specified complexity pervades the microscopic biological world. Molecular biologist Michael Denton wrote, “Although the tiniest bacterial cells are incredibly small, weighing less than 10-12 grams, each is in effect a veritable micro-miniaturized factory containing thousands of exquisitely designed pieces of intricate molecular machinery, made up altogether of one hundred thousand million atoms, far more complicated than any machinery built by man and absolutely without parallel in the non-living world.

“And we don’t need a microscope to observe irreducible complexity. The eye, the ear and the heart are all examples of irreducible complexity, though they were not recognized as such in Darwin’s day. Nevertheless, Darwin confessed, “To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.”

Previous Chapter:  PERFECTION – Chapter 16 – The Tower of Babel.

Next Chapter coming: PERFECTION – Chapter 18 – “Science Says NO”

(Go here for the complete Online Digital Book: THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION

ALSO, THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION – PDF FORMAT.

THE HOLY SPIRIT & FIRE – Matthew 3:11-12

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(You can listen by audio and pause the audio to follow page links, then resume the audio when you are ready. Please Note: I use page links in lieu of footnotes or references. The page links contain important details for this teaching – especially for this episode.)

Matthew 3:11, “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Verse 12. “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

I will present these vitally important verses in 2 segments. The FIRST segment deals with the Prophetic Nature of these verses. The SECOND segment deals with the Practical Nature and application of these verses.

THE PROPHETIC NATURE: Matthew 3:12 says, “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

THERE ARE FOUR POINTS GIVEN IN VERSE 12 WHICH ENCAPSULATES THE ENTIRE TRIBULATION PERIOD, BEGINNING WITH THE BREAKING OF THE TRIBULATION SEALS, CONTINUING THROUGH THE TRUMPET AND BOWL JUDGMENTS, INCLUDING THE  WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT AND CULMINATING WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE 1ST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH WITH INTENSE HEAT.

(a)  “His winnowing fork is in His hand:  Cleansing, refining, purifying His Church.

(b)  He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor:  Preparation through tribulation.

(c)  He will gather His wheat into the barn:  Jesus gathering His Church through the rapture and taking us to our eternal Home.

(d)  He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire: The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the destruction of the first heavens and earth. Listen and read carefully.

The Ultimate Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is Perfection. He is maturing His people, of all the ages, by His Plan, to live in perfect harmony with Him and with one another. In the end, God is going to destroy this earth and heavens with an intense heat, and will create a New and Perfect heaven and earth.

Having become a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, you are no longer of this world. You are to take up your rightful place as a child of God, and as the righteousness of God, you must stop thinking as this world thinks. God is preparing you to be an active participant in the events of these Last Days.

THE PRACTICAL NATURE AND APPLICATION: John is telling us, “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

This may well be one of the most important statements made by John, and one of the most overlooked in the entire New Testament. 

Ask yourself, “Do you know what this means to you?” and have you been baptized with the Holy Spirit and with Fire?

First, about baptism:  The word in the original Greek is “baptizo”, pronounced bap-tid’-zo.  It means, in this case, to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to overwhelm with permanent change.

This word is not to be confused with “bapto” which is to dip in or immerse in water, as to dip into dye, or to color.  This is simply and change of the exterior. 

The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C.   It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words.  Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be ‘dipped’ (bapto) into boiling water and then ‘baptized’ (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptizing the vegetable, produces a permanent change.

When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. (Mark 16:16).  ‘He that believes and is baptized shall be saved’.  Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent, a coloring of the outside of a person, so to speak, is not enough.  There must be a spiritual union with him, a real change, a permanent change which only the Holy Spirit can accomplish, is needed, like the vegetable to the pickle!

JOHN’S BAPTISM is the act of Binding, on earth.  “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18

Second,  John is saying, in fact he is prophesying, that Jesus will baptize you – BAPTIZO – with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

We can see what is meant by this in the next verse:

Matthew 3:12 

(a)  “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and

(b)  He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and

(c)  He will gather His wheat into the barn, but

(d)  He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.“

A winnowing fork is an instrument used to separate the grain of the wheat from the chaff.  It is a violent act of beating and threshing.  This is symbolic of the process of salvation, sanctification and being made ready to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus will thoroughly clear His threshing floor.  Nothing is left untouched.  Everything will be “purged, purified and refined” and made ready for the Kingdom of God.

THIS IS FOR THE BELIEVER in preparation for what is coming upon us.  This is your first and last line of defense against the evil day.  You cannot and will not survive what is coming upon the world if you have not allowed Jesus to Baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with Fire!

(*NOTE:  This is NOT some postmodern or contemporary reenactment of ‘speaking in some strange tongue’ and behaving strangely.  It is NOT an elevation of your adrenaline or some ‘excited fit’ where you supposedly ‘take dominion over demons’.  This IS an awesome and a fearsome act of God.  It IS God’s steady hand, filling you with His power and Presence.  It IS HIM doing HIS works through you.  It is HIM speaking His Words and HIM doing His bidding through you, while you are quiet and yielded to Him.)

We can also see this prophecy given and this process described in

Daniel 12:1  “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Verse 2. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.  Verse 10. “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”

These are prophetic pictures of Jesus Second Coming as Judge and Conquering King. In His first coming, Jesus arrived in the most humble of circumstances.  His second coming,  Jesus will arrive with the armies of heaven at His side.

Revelation 19:11-16, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice, he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters, it is urgent that we understand

(1).  What is coming. 

(2).  That it is already upon us. 

(3).  We are to be participants in these Last Days, and not standing idly by looking up into the sky wondering about His Return. 

(4).  He will prepare us to join with Him to complete His earthly mission and then

(5). Comes His Judgment

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

The Next Teaching from Matthew 3:12, His Winnowing Fork

CAN SIMPLY ‘BELIEVING IN JESUS’ SAVE YOU?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

This is a question that is asked by millions of people every day. This is also a question lurking in the minds of many millions who say they believe in Jesus, but secretly wonder if they are really “saved”.

This is a question, not of practicality or one that can be measured by science, but is a question of faith.

The Bible, as explained in the Bible, has been written or ‘breathed’ by God into the hearts and minds of certain dedicated and devoted people, who then wrote down what God inspired them to write – or so they say.

Centuries of writings and experiences began to show a pattern of sorts. Eventually, holy men came together and began to decide which writing should be canonized into the Old and New testaments of the Bible.

Let’s attempt to gain some understanding by starting with two important and keywords: Faith and Saved.

Ephesians 2:8 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

FAITH, from Strong’s Concordance: “pístis”, means to “persuade or to be persuaded”, to come to trust).

Faith is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, “faith” for the believer is “God’s divine persuasion“, and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer, so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will. (1 John 5:4).

Faith, in secular antiquity, referred to a guarantee, a warranty. In Scripture, faith is God’s warranty, certifying that the revelation He in birthed will come to pass (His way).

Faith is also used collectively of all the times God has revealed, (given the persuasion of) His will, which includes the full revelation of Scripture, (Jude 3). Indeed, God the Lord guarantees that all of this revelation will come to pass! Compare Matthew 5:18 with 2 Timothy 3:16. (For more detail, click here)

SAVED, from Strong’s Concordance: “sṓzō”. From the Greek language, means “safe and rescued”; to deliver out of danger and into safety; used principally of God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin, and into His provisions, (His safety). Rescued from destruction and brought into divine safety.

To save, to keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction; to make well, heal, restore to health; to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment, Joel 2:32; to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance; to make one a partaker of the salvation by Christ;

If you read these definitions, you may have settled one or two questions and probably created scores of new questions!

Now let’s get to the ‘meat of the subject’.

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 10:8-10, explains it this way, “Verse 8. But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”, that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, Verse 9. that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; Verse 10. for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

This is not a ‘secret formula’. It is an attempt to explain of one of the greatest mysteries of God. The Apostle is telling us that God has made humankind in such a fashion that if you truly believe something that your mouth will speak or confess those things, aloud.

Paul goes deeper to explain that true faith begins in a person’s ‘heart’ or in your core. It is in this place (in the spirit of a man or a woman) that true belief, that is true life changing belief, takes root.

Let me stop here to say that the mind is a powerful thing. Modern science is showing that how we think and perceive things can have a powerful effect on our bodies, relationships and abilities, even into old age. (See The Effects on Aging. Also see The Effects on living well, Also see Whole Health – the Power of the Mind, U.S. Veterans Affairs )

Even with all of this said, “we should not attempt to import modern notions of mind, brain, and intellect into the ancient text. The people in Old and New Testament times seem to have had a much more integrated view of humanity.

“There was much less emphasis on the distinction between the material and the immaterial. When Jesus says to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind, He is not highlighting various aspects of personality. He is not differentiating between emotion and intellect; rather, He is saying that our love for God should be all-inclusive. The mind is simply one more way to identify the inner being—all that we are. In fact, in Matthew 22:37, Jesus uses the word kardia (“heart”), which in other contexts is translated “mind.”

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states, “We look in vain in the Old Testament and New Testament for anything like scientific precision in the employment of terms which are meant to indicate mental operations.” Biblically, the mind is simply the “inner being” or the sum total of all our mental, emotional, and spiritual faculties, without drawing fine distinctions between them.” (Got Question.Org)

Let me simply conclude this way: Who would not want to be saved if that salvation made you safe, healthy and whole in your mind and body? If it made you safe, healthy and whole in your marriage, with your family and children; in your job and career, reaching across the decades having made your life well worth living?

Troubles will come and go, as it is with everyone in life, but you could have hope of recovery and a hope for the future. Ultimately, you will be delivered out of the danger of perishing into the dark abyss of hell and to be safely delivered into the presence of an almighty and loving God.

This cannot be found by experimentation. It is not a project to be tried or proven. Salvation is  a gift from God, and is never something that can be produced by people. In short, “faith”, for the believer, is “God’s divine persuasion“, and therefore distinct from human belief or confidence, although it involves it. The Lord will continuously birth faith in a yielded ‘believer’ so they can know Him and what He prefers. This is the persuasion of His will

Now you know a little more. Now, it is up to you:  BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

WHERE AMERICA IS HEADED – The Short Version

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON, and what is going to happen next?

Many conservatives and Christians are encouraged by recent Supreme Court decisions of late (July 2022). However, this is no more than shadow boxing. While conservatives cheer the Supreme court rulings, Leftist-Marxists-Liberal Socialists are already finding ways to circumvent the laws and will continue to feint and dodge, bob and weave, while we swipe at the air.

America no longer has the will or the resolve to do what it takes to win this war. We refuse to give up our luxuries, comforts and wealth in order to do whatever it takes to win America back from the Globalist and Marxists. We have, in fact, lost our resolve, and the Left knows it.

I believe what we are seeing are the last gasps of a dying nation. Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. The name, “America” will linger, but the soul of our once great country is fading. Our constitution, our history and our legacies are being, and have been erased. Now, the righteous cry out, but no one is listening.

It would appear that America is no longer what she once was. Our time is past. If you must, you may begin the mourning process now. This scenario seems sad, and indeed, it is sad. But this is exactly what God prepared ahead of time.

History and events are unfolding precisely as God planned, and from an earthly or human perspective, things look dim for America and the world. A NEW WORLD ORDER is unfolding before our eyes, and at this stage, nothing will stop it. We have entered the New Age of Global Marxism. “The Great Reset” we have been hearing about, has begun, promising worldwide peace, prosperity and equality for all people from all walks of life. But it is a lie.

The Good News is that God has sounded the Shofar. It is time for the Remnant Church to wake up.

It is time for the Church to shift its attention from worldly matters and to prepare for the final battle. The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord is at hand.

I am asking you to read the following carefully and prayerfully. These are The Final Prophecies:

Here is an outline of the Chronology of the prevailing view of the TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL TIMELINE OF THE “END OF DAYS”.

  1.   In the Beginning (Creation).
  2.    Prophecy of things to come.
  3.    Foreshadowing of things to come.
  4.    Events missing in the Outline of the End Times.
  5.    The tribulation’s days of distress begins.
  6.    The Signs.
  7.    The Events.
  8.    The Eschatological Clock – The 5th Seal (This is where we are now).
  9.    Daniel’s 70th Week  – The 6th Seal  –  The Great Tribulation.
  10.  The Rapture of the Church – The 6th Seal- The Interlude- The 144,000- A Multitude from the Revelation.
  11. The Wrath of the Lamb – Trumpet & Bowl Judgments, The Battle of Gog and Magog.
  12. The Abomination of Desolation.
  13.  The Battle of Armageddon.
  14. The judgment of the nations.
  15. The binding of Satan.
  16. The Great White Throne Judgment,
  17. The new creation.

(Click Here for the ‘Long Version’ and greater detail of the events of the End Times –  Chronology)

There are multiple views of the chronology of the Biblical End Times.  I do not want to pursue or repeat what has already been written.  The foregoing outline is a generally accepted chronology and is from the pre-tribulation view.

Almost every such outline or chronology of this sort is the same.  They begin with the rapture of the church and go from there.

But they usually ignore the prophecies about the coming End of Days, the events which foreshadow the coming Day of the Lord (a.k.a., End Times) and the most recent first century warnings which are leading up to the tribulation and the Great Tribulation periods.

I will use this outline, (mostly taken from Gotquestions.org – end times timeline), as my template and I will fill in the ‘omitted Biblical foreshadowing events’ and Bible’s 1st century warnings which point out the Great Tribulation Period.

the 5th Tribulation Seal  –  Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away. (This is where we are now. The 5th Tribulation Seal is being broken and the associated events are beginning to appear.)

 We are now standing at the precipice of the breaking of 6th Tribulation Seal . 

(4).  *MISSING FROM”THE TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL OUTLINES” of things to come:  The Denominational Outline says His Return is IMMINENT. BUT,

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no one in any way deceive you, for

it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and

the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction”.

There are two events that must take place before the day of the Lord can come. First, the apostasy must come. Second, the man of lawlessness must be revealed.

  1. The rise of the Antichrist. After the church is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8), a satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 9:27). He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who heads up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist. (Revelation 19:20).
  2. MISSING FROM “THE TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL OUTLINES”:  

 First, as has already been stated from 2 Thessalonians 2:3, “Let no one in any way deceive you, for

 it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and

the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction”

There are two events that must take place before the day of the Lord can come. First, the apostasy must come. Second, the man of lawlessness must be revealed.

Secondly, a simple face value reading gives you a timeline.  That timeline is deliberately blurred by denominational bible teachers who make the Bible fit their doctrinal statement.  This can be confusing for the Christian Bible student and dangerous for those preparing in earnest.

BEFORE WE CAN GO FURTHER, we must look at the aligning of Nations and Events that must take place at the pouring out of the final Bowl Judgements.

Make careful note of the current-day world powers in 2022 and those conspicuously missing during the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

America is now, (2022), being reduced from her former stature and is being reduced and absorbed into a World Confederation. (I know many may dispute this either out of anger, angst or ignorance. But it is necessary for some current-day world powers to decrease as the appointed “End of Days Nations” can increase in power. America is being reduced because of her sins, by the Hand of God.)

The Book of Ezekiel is a prophecy about the end of days, filled with bizarre visions and puzzling revelations. There have been precursor events, foreshadowing events to the final fulfillment of this prophecy. There is much speculation about the meaning and the fulfillment of the words of Ezekiel, but there has never, in all of history, been a convergence and a concurrence of  both historical and prophetic events as we see them now.

Ezekiel:  This Book tells of the early preparations to be made before the final dramatic act of The End of the Age.

Ezekiel 38:1, “Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, verse 2, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, verse 3, and say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Verse 4. So, I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently dressed, a great contingent with shield and buckler, all of them wielding swords; Verse 5. Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with buckler and helmet; Verse 6. Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops, many peoples with you.”

Theme

Ezekiel the priest, assures his fellow Jews, through this prophecy, that God will one day return them to Jerusalem and restore the temple. The Jews were restored to Israel in 1948. The temple is yet to be rebuilt, but that day is drawing near.

Beneath the surface and you’ll find timeless lessons about God and his relationship with you: He’d rather forgive you than judge you. He remains faithful even if you don’t. He can use anything—even something bad—to accomplish his greater good. Ezekiel wrote this book to the Israelites living in exile. They needed to know that the God of Israel was God even in pagan Babylon. Ezekiel warned the people that their idolatry would be judged. Later, after Jerusalem’s destruction, he wrote to encourage them that God would bring them back to Judah and Jerusalem. (excerpt from Biblegateway.com).

Author:  Ezekiel

Timeline:  Between 593–571 BC.

Genre:  Allegory; Autobiography; Narrative; Oracles; Poetry; Prophecy

Original Language:  Hebrew

Audience: Jews who were taken captive to Babylonia in 597 BC.

WHO ARE THE ‘PLAYERS’?

Gog – Gog and Magog appear in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran as individuals, tribes, or lands. In Ezekiel 38, Gog is an individual and Magog is his land; in Genesis 10, Magog is a man and eponymous ancestor of a nation, but no Gog is mentioned; and centuries later Jewish tradition changed Ezekiel’s “Gog from Magog” into “Gog and Magog”.

The Gog prophecy is meant to be fulfilled at the approach of what is called the “end of days“, but not necessarily the end of the world. Jewish eschatology viewed Gog and Magog as enemies to be defeated by the Messiah, which would usher in the age of the Messiah. Christianity‘s interpretation is more starkly apocalyptic: making Gog and Magog, here indicating nations rather than individuals, allies of Satan against God at the end of the millennium, as described in the Book of Revelation. (From Wikipedia).

Meshech, Tubal:  Meshech (also spelled Meshek) and Tubal were sons of Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah who survived the flood with him (Genesis 10:1–2). Meshech (whose name means “long, tall, or drawn out by force”) is the sixth son of Japheth. The land of Meshech is closely associated with that of Tubal, especially in a prophecy of Ezekiel. The region of Meshech is often identified as being north of the Black Sea (southern Russia and Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia), and Tubal as an area in central Turkey.

The land of Meshech is used in Psalm 120:5 as a generic reference to barbarous regions where “those who hate peace” live (verse 6). The lands where Meshech’s and Tubal’s descendants settled figure significantly in some prophecies of Ezekiel, and it is in that book where they are mentioned most. In the prophecy of Ezekiel 38, Meshech and Tubal are ruled by Gog, a prince over those territories: “The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, “Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal”’” (Ezekiel 38:1–3). Ezekiel repeats God’s words of judgment against the descendants of the two sons of Japheth when he prophesies that God will defeat them in a war against Israel (Ezekiel 39:1–5).

Many biblical scholars equate the land of Gog in Ezekiel’s prophecies with Russia, who will attack Israel “from the far north” (Ezekiel 38:15). Meshech and Tubal could be two of the “many nations” joining Russia in their invasion of Israel (verse 6).

The advance of the alliance involving Meshech and Tubal will be like “a cloud covering the land” (Ezekiel 38:9). Some commentators believe this war, often called the Battle of Gog and Magog, will be one of the events leading up to the end-times’ tribulation. Others believe it will occur close to the midpoint of the tribulation, since Israel will feel secure at the time, “dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates” (verse 11).

God will defeat this powerful alliance (Ezekiel 38:22) to reveal His greatness to all the world (verse 23) and restore the people of Israel to a right relationship with Himself (Ezekiel 39:21–29). Meshech and Tubal, despite the strength of their numbers and help of their allies, will fall. (GotQuestions.org)

Cush: The Kingdom of Kush; Assyrian: was an ancient kingdom in Nubia, centered along the Nile Valley in what is now northern Sudan and southern Egypt.

Put – Phut or Put is the third son of Ham (one of the sons of Noah), in the biblical Table of Nations (Genesis 10:6; 1 Chronicles 1:8). The name Put (or Phut) is used in the Bible for Ancient Libya, but a few scholars proposed the Land of Punt known from Ancient Egyptian annals.

Gomer: The Hebrew name Gomer refers to the Cimmerians, who dwelt in what is now southern Russia, “beyond the Caucusus”, and attacked Assyria in the late 7th century BC.

Beth-togarmah: Togarmah is a figure in the “table of nations” in Genesis 10, the list of descendants of Noah that represents the peoples known to the ancient Hebrews. Togarmah is among the descendants of Japheth and is thought to represent some people located in Anatolia. Medieval sources claimed that Togarmah was the legendary ancestor of several peoples of the Caucasus -including Armenians and Georgians.

  1. The Great Tribulation. A period of seven years in which God’s judgment is poured out on sinful humanity (Revelation 6–16). The Antichrist’s rise to power is associated with this time period. During the tribulation on earth, the Church will be in heaven. It is thought that at this time the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will occur in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19:6–10).
  2. The abomination of desolation. At the midway point of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and shows his true colors. The Jews are scattered, and many of them turn to the Lord, realizing that Jesus is their Savior. A great persecution breaks out against all those who believe in Christ (Daniel 12:11; Mark 13:14; Revelation 12:17).
  3. The Battle of Armageddon, (Revelation 16:12-20). At the end of the tribulation, Jesus returns with the armies of heaven (Mark 14:62). He saves Jerusalem from annihilation and defeats the armies of the nation’s fighting under the banner of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:11–21). The Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
  4. The Battle of Gog and Magog, (Revelation 20:7-10). In the first part of the tribulation, a great army from the north, in alliance with several other countries from the Middle East and Africa, attacks Israel and is defeated by God’s supernatural intervention (Ezekiel 38–39). (Some commentators place this battle just before the start of the tribulation.)
  5. The judgment of the nations. Christ will judge the survivors of the tribulation, separating the righteous from the wicked as “sheep” and “goats” (Matthew 25:31–46). (It is thought that at this time the Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead.) The righteous will enter the Millennial Kingdom; the wicked will be cast into hell
  6. The binding of Satan. Satan will be bound and held in a bottomless pit for the next 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–3).
  7. The Millennial Kingdom. Jesus Himself will rule the world, and Jerusalem will be the capital. This will be a 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity on earth (Revelation 20; Isaiah 60–62). Memorial sacrifices will be offered in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40–48).
  8. The last battle. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released from his prison for a short time. He will deceive the nations once again, and there will be a rebellion against the Lord that will be quickly defeated (Revelation 20:7–10). Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, never to reappear.
  9. The Great White Throne Judgment. All those in hell will be brought forth, and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). The verdicts are read, and all of sinful humanity is cast into the lake of fire.
  10. The new creation. God completely remakes the heavens and the earth. It is at this time that God wipes away all tears and there will be no more pain, death, or sorrow. The New Jerusalem descends from heaven, and the children of God will enjoy eternity with Him. (Revelation 21–22)

Finally, here is a table showing the alignment of World History, an historical overview of Daniel’s 70 Weeks and a Biblical Historical outline:

Revelation 20:1–3

I know that this is a long read and a long study, but, (#1), it is important for you, as a Disciple of Jesus to know where you are on God’s Timeline, (#2), what it means to you, (#3) what is required for you to be ready, and, (#4) what it means to be ready for what is at hand and (#5), how to prepare.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

WHERE IS AMERICA HEADED – The Long Version

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON, and what is going to happen next?

Many conservatives and Christians are encouraged by recent Supreme Court decisions of late (July 2022). However, this is no more than shadow boxing. While conservatives cheer the Supreme court rulings, Leftist-Marxists-Liberal Socialists are already finding ways to circumvent the laws and will continue to feint and dodge, bob and weave, while we swipe at the air.

America no longer has the will or the resolve to do what it takes to win this war. We refuse to give up our luxuries, comforts and wealth in order to do whatever it takes to win America back from the Globalist and Marxists. We have, in fact, lost our resolve, and the Left knows it.

I believe what we are seeing are the last gasps of a dying nation. Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. The name, “America” will linger, but the soul of our once great country is fading. Our constitution, our history and our legacies are being, and have been erased. Now, the righteous cry out, but no one is listening.

It would appear that America is no longer what she once was. Our time is past. If you must, you may begin the mourning process now. This scenario seems sad, and indeed, it is sad. But this is exactly what God prepared ahead of time.

History and events are unfolding precisely as God planned, and from an earthly or human perspective, things look dim for America and the world. A NEW WORLD ORDER is unfolding before our eyes, and at this stage, nothing will stop it. We have entered the New Age of Global Marxism. “The Great Reset” we have been hearing about, has begun, promising worldwide peace, prosperity and equality for all people from all walks of life. But it is a lie.

The Good News is that God has sounded the Shofar. It is time for the Remnant Church to wake up.

It is time for the Church to shift its attention from worldly matters and to prepare for the final battle. The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord is at hand.

I am asking you to read the following carefully and prayerfully. These are The Final Prophecies:

Here is an outline of the Chronology of the prevailing view of the TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL TIMELINE OF THE “END OF DAYS”.

  1.   In the Beginning (Creation).
  2.    Prophecy of things to come.
  3.    Foreshadowing of things to come.
  4.    Events missing in the Outline of the End Times.
  5.    The tribulation’s days of distress begins.
  6.    The Signs.
  7.    The Events.
  8.    The Eschatological Clock – The 5th Seal. (This is where we are now).
  9.    Daniels 70th Week  – The 6th Seal  –  The Great Tribulation.
  10.  The Rapture of the Church – The 6th Seal- The Interlude- The 144,000- A Multitude from the Revelation.
  11. The Wrath of the Lamb – Trumpet & Bowl Judgments, The Battle of Gog and Magog.
  12. The Abomination of Desolation.
  13.  The Battle of Armageddon.
  14. The judgment of the nations.
  15. The binding of Satan.
  16. The Great White Throne Judgment,
  17. The new creation.

NEXT: Here is greater detail of the events of the End Times –  Chronology (If you would rather read the ‘short version’ click here.)

1.  In the Beginning – Prophecies of the coming New World Order.  God creates mankind, with a flaw.  Failure is planned; a Savior is provided; The Plan has begun.

2.  The Tower of Babel– Then and Now.  Man rebels and reaches for the heavens.

3.  The coming of Messiah.  The Messiah is foretold.

4.   Prophetic warnings– 1st century AD.  No one is listening.

5.  The Tribulation. The End has begun.

6.  The countdown – The first 4 Seals of the Days of Distress.

 7.  The World Events of the Seals.  ONGOING.

8.  The 5th Seal is broken. begins, the falling away from the faith, The Antichrist is revealed. After the church is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8), a satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 9:27). He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who heads up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:20).

 9.  The rapture of the church. Christ comes in the clouds to “snatch away” all those who trust in Him (1 Corinthians 15:52). At this same time, the “dead in Christ” will be resurrected and taken to heaven, too.

From our perspective today, this is the next event in the eschatological timeline. The rapture is imminent;  The only things that must yet happen are, (#1), the revealing of the anti-Christ, (#2), the Great Apostasy and, (#3), the breaking of the 6th Scroll Seal of the Tribulation.

 10. The Breaking of the Sixth Seal – The Great tribulation, Daniel’s 70th week begins. A period of seven years in which God’s judgment is poured out on sinful humanity (Revelation 6–16). The Antichrist’s rise to power is associated with this time period. During the tribulation on earth, the Church will be in heaven. It is thought that at this time the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will occur in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19:6–10).

 11. The abomination of desolation. At the midway point of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and shows his true colors. The Jews are scattered, and many of them turn to the Lord, realizing that Jesus is their Savior. A great persecution breaks out against all those who believe in Christ (Daniel 12:11; Mark 13:14; Revelation 12:17).

 12. The Battle of Armageddon. At the end of the tribulation, during the final bowl Judgments, Jesus (Mark 14:62) saves Jerusalem from annihilation and defeats the armies of the nation’s fighting under the banner of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:11–21). The Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

 13. The judgment of the nations. Christ will judge the survivors of the tribulation, separating the righteous from the wicked as “sheep” and “goats” (Matthew 25:31–46). (It is thought that at this time the Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead.) The righteous will enter the Millennial Kingdom; the wicked will be cast into hell.

 14. The last battle. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released from his prison for a short time. He will deceive the nations once again, and there will be a rebellion against the Lord that will be quickly defeated (Revelation 20:7–10). Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, never to reappear.

 15. The Battle of Gog and Magog. In the first part of the tribulation, a great army from the north, in alliance with several other countries from the Middle East and Africa, attacks Israel and is defeated by God’s supernatural intervention (Ezekiel 38–39). (Some commentators place this battle just before the start of the tribulation.)

 16. The binding of Satan. Satan will be bound and held in a bottomless pit for the next 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–3).

 17. The Great White Throne Judgment. All those in hell will be brought forth, and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment(Revelation 20:11–15). The verdicts are read, and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15), and all of sinful humanity is cast into the lake of fire.

 18. The Millennial Kingdom. Jesus Himself will rule the world, and Jerusalem will be the capital. This will be a 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity on earth (Revelation 20; Isaiah 60–62). Memorial sacrifices will be offered in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40–48).

 19. The new creation. God completely remakes the heavens and the earth. It is at this time that God wipes away all tears and there will be no more pain, death, or sorrow. The New Jerusalem descends from heaven, and the children of God will enjoy eternity with Him (Revelation 21–22).

There are multiple views of the chronology of the Biblical End Times.  I do not want to pursue or repeat what has already been written.  The foregoing outline is a generally accepted chronology and is from the pre-tribulation view.

Almost every such outline or chronology of this sort is the same.  They begin with the rapture of the church and go from there.

But they usually ignore the prophecies about the coming End of Days, the events which foreshadow the coming Day of the Lord (a.k.a., End Times) and the most recent first century warnings which are leading up to the tribulation and the Great Tribulation periods.

I will use this outline, (mostly taken from Gotquestions.org – end times timeline), as my template and I will fill in the ‘omitted Biblical foreshadowing events’ and Bible’s 1st century warnings which point out the Great Tribulation Period.

  1. IN THE BEGINNING.

It is difficult to imagine that God planned the entirety of time.  We cannot go back far enough to discover when this began, because there is no beginning with God.  “God has always existed”: Such an incomprehensible statement in so few words.

It is equally difficult to imagine “a world without end”, but God is eternal, even beyond “the new heavens and a new earth”.  (Revelation 12:1)

God has spoken to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, and in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.  And it is by these ways that we can know.

  1. THE PROPHECIES.

First, God has spoken to us through the prophets in various ways.  God’s warnings are warning of coming judgment for His people’s rebellions and disobedience.  God’s judgments followed His warnings, and each of these events, known as The Day of the Lord, are a foreshadowing of what is yet to come.  “A time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation.” (Daniel 12:1)

The words and the imagery of the destruction during the great and Terrible Day of the Lord would be difficult for most to accept or to understand.

(The good news is that God’s people, everyone who is found written in the Book of Life, will be rescued.)

Here are those prophecies:

Isaiah 13:9 See, the day of the LORD is coming –a cruel day, with …

See, the day of the LORD is coming –a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger–
to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. …
//biblehub.com/Isaiah/13-9.htm – 18k

Lamentations 2:22 “As you summon to a feast day, so you summoned …

… terrors on every side. In the day of the LORD’s anger no one escaped or survived;
those I cared for and reared my enemy has destroyed …
//biblehub.com/lamentations/2-22.htm – 19k

Ezekiel 30:3 For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near– a …

For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near– a day
of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. …
//biblehub.com/Ezekiel/30-3.htm – 17k

Hosea 9:5 What will you do on the day of your appointed festivals …

… What will you do on a festival day, on the day of the LORD’s feast? …
//biblehub.com/hosea/9-5.htm – 16k

Joel 1:15 Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it …

Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it
will come like destruction from the Almighty. …
//biblehub.com/joel/1-15.htm – 17k

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For …

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day
of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. …
//biblehub.com/joel/3-14.htm – 17k

Amos 5:18 Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you …

….. Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why …
//biblehub.com/amos/5-18.htm – 17k

Obadiah 1:15 “The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you …

….. The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As …
//biblehub.com/obadiah/1-15.htm – 18k

Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before …

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that
great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. …
//biblehub.com/malachi/4-5.htm – 17k

Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of …

….. Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. …
//biblehub.com/zephaniah/1-7.htm – 18k

Zephaniah 1:8 “On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish …

“On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the officials and
the king’s sons and all those clad in foreign clothes. …
//biblehub.com/zephaniah/1-8.htm – 18k

Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near– near and coming …

….. The great day of the LORD is near– near and coming quickly. …
//biblehub.com/zephaniah/1-14.htm – 18k

Zephaniah 2:2 before the decree takes effect and that day passes …

… the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the LORD’s
fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the LORD’s wrath comes upon …
//biblehub.com/zephaniah/2-2.htm – 18k

Zechariah 14:1 A day of the LORD is coming, Jerusalem, when your …

A day of the LORD is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will
be plundered and divided up within your very walls. …
//biblehub.com/zechariah/14-1.htm – 17k

1 Thessalonians 5:2 for you know very well that the day of the …

for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. …
//biblehub.com/1_thessalonians/5-2.htm – 18k

 

Each of these prophecies tell us what is past, what is present and what is yet to come.  This is important because in order to look forward, we must look back.  This is how prophecy works.

  1. FORESHADOWING OF THINGS TO COME.

Besides the prophecies in the Old Testament, we can the foreshadowing of what is to come.  It is as if we “see through a dark glass dimly”.

  1. Genesis 6– The Flood shows us God’s judgment on a global scale.  A catastrophe for mankind.  God judged the world because (Genesis 6:5) “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Verse 6. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Verse 7.  The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”
  2. Genesis 6–   The Corruption of Mankind. Building the Ark of their Salvation.
  3. Genesis 7–   The Flood; purging, cleansing the earth of sin.
  4. Genesis 9–   The Covenant; restoring.
  5. Daniel gives us a glimpse into our present and future.  We know this by looking back.  (the Book of Daniel chapters seven through 12).
  6. Daniel 7– Daniel’s vision of the 4 Beasts and a future Tribulation.
  7. The “Ancient of Days” – The Son of Man presented – The Vision Interpreted.
  8. Daniel 8– Daniel’s vision of the Goat and the Ram.

-The Little Horn.

-The Vision Interpreted.

9.  Daniel 9– Daniel’s Prayer for his people.

10. Seventy Weeks and the Messiah.

11. Daniel 11– Conflicts to Come.

12. Daniel 12– The Time of The End.

These are just two of many foreshadows of the coming Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

  1. MISSING FROM THE TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL OUTLINES” of thing to come: The rapture of the church. Christ comes in the clouds to “snatch away” all those who trust in Him. (1 Corinthians 15:52). At this same time, the “dead in Christ” will be resurrected and taken to heaven, too. From our perspective today, this is the next event in the eschatological timeline. The rapture is imminent; no other biblical prophecy needs to be fulfilled before the rapture happens.’
  2. *MISSING FROM”THE TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL OUTLINES” of things to come: Prior to the rapture of the church.  We are told by Jesus and some of the Apostles that the End of Days, also known as the “times of distress” had begun as early as AD 1, but more likely between AD 60 and AD 100.

(1).  Jesus called this period the LAST DAYS or the END OF THE AGE in Matthew 24:3-8.

(2).  The Apostle Peter called this period the LAST DAYS in Acts 2:16-17.

(3).  The Apostle Paul calls this period THESE LAST DAYS in Hebrews 1:1-2.

The Bible tells about the END OF DAYS and the Tribulation.  It is important to know that the Tribulation period actually is called by three prominent, although variant names:

(a)  The beginning of Sorrows, Birth Pangs, The End of The Age or the Last Days.

(b)  The Tribulation also known as The End of Days.

(c) The GREAT Tribulation also known as the Wrath of God or the Wrath of the Lamb.

The beginning of Sorrows, Birth Pangs The End of the Age or the Last days, begin with the opening of Tribulation Seal ONE began between AD 60 and AD 100, and perhaps as early as AD1.  

 Seals ONE through FIVE have been broken, progressively, up until this day.

 the 1st Tribulation Seal  –  Global conquest and political intrigue.

the 2nd Tribulation Seal –  Wars and Rumors of War.

the 3rd Tribulation Seal  –  Famine.

the 4th Tribulation Seal  –  Death.

the 5th Tribulation Seal  –  Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away. (This is where we are now. The 5th Tribulation Seal is being broken and the associated events are begging to appear.)

 We are now standing at the precipice of the breaking of 6th Tribulation Seal . 

(4).  *MISSING FROM”THE TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL OUTLINES” of things to come:  The Denominational Outline says His Return is IMMINENT. BUT,

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no one in any way deceive you, for

it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and

the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction”.

There are two events that must take place before the day of the Lord can come. First, the apostasy must come. Second, the man of lawlessness must be revealed.

  1. The rise of the Antichrist. After the church is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8), a satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 9:27). He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who heads up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist. (Revelation 19:20).
  2. MISSING FROM “THE TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONAL OUTLINES”:  

 First, as has already been stated from 2 Thessalonians 2:3, “Let no one in any way deceive you, for

 it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and

the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction”

There are two events that must take place before the day of the Lord can come. First, the apostasy must come. Second, the man of lawlessness must be revealed.

Secondly, a simple face value reading gives you a timeline.  That timeline is deliberately blurred by denominational bible teachers who make the Bible fit their doctrinal statement.  This can be confusing for the Christian Bible student and dangerous for those preparing in earnest.

BEFORE WE CAN GO FURTHER, we must look at the aligning of Nations and Events that must take place at the pouring out of the final Bowl Judgements.

Make careful note of the current-day world powers in 2022 and those conspicuously missing during the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

America is now, (2022), being reduced from her former stature and is being reduced and absorbed into a World Confederation. (I know many may dispute this either out of anger, angst or ignorance. But it is necessary for some current-day world powers to decrease as the appointed “End of Days Nations” can increase in power. America is being reduced because of her sins, by the Hand of God.)

The Book of Ezekiel is a prophecy about the end of days, filled with bizarre visions and puzzling revelations. There have been precursor events, foreshadowing events to the final fulfillment of this prophecy. There is much speculation about the meaning and the fulfillment of the words of Ezekiel, but there has never, in all of history, been a convergence and a concurrence of  both historical and prophetic events as we see them now.

Ezekiel:  This Book tells of the early preparations to be made before the final dramatic act of The End of the Age.

Ezekiel 38:1, “Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, verse 2, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, verse 3, and say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Verse 4. So, I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently dressed, a great contingent with shield and buckler, all of them wielding swords; Verse 5. Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with buckler and helmet; Verse 6. Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops, many peoples with you.”

Theme

Ezekiel the priest, assures his fellow Jews, through this prophecy, that God will one day return them to Jerusalem and restore the temple. The Jews were restored to Israel in 1948. The temple is yet to be rebuilt, but that day is drawing near.

Beneath the surface and you’ll find timeless lessons about God and his relationship with you: He’d rather forgive you than judge you. He remains faithful even if you don’t. He can use anything—even something bad—to accomplish his greater good. Ezekiel wrote this book to the Israelites living in exile. They needed to know that the God of Israel was God even in pagan Babylon. Ezekiel warned the people that their idolatry would be judged. Later, after Jerusalem’s destruction, he wrote to encourage them that God would bring them back to Judah and Jerusalem. (excerpt from Biblegateway.com).

Author:  Ezekiel

Timeline:  Between 593–571 BC.

Genre:  Allegory; Autobiography; Narrative; Oracles; Poetry; Prophecy

Original Language:  Hebrew

Audience: Jews who were taken captive to Babylonia in 597 BC.

WHO ARE THE ‘PLAYERS’?

Gog – Gog and Magog appear in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran as individuals, tribes, or lands. In Ezekiel 38, Gog is an individual and Magog is his land; in Genesis 10, Magog is a man and eponymous ancestor of a nation, but no Gog is mentioned; and centuries later Jewish tradition changed Ezekiel’s “Gog from Magog” into “Gog and Magog”.

The Gog prophecy is meant to be fulfilled at the approach of what is called the “end of days“, but not necessarily the end of the world. Jewish eschatology viewed Gog and Magog as enemies to be defeated by the Messiah, which would usher in the age of the Messiah. Christianity‘s interpretation is more starkly apocalyptic: making Gog and Magog, here indicating nations rather than individuals,[3] allies of Satan against God at the end of the millennium, as described in the Book of Revelation. (From Wikipedia).

Meshech, Tubal:  Meshech (also spelled Meshek) and Tubal were sons of Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah who survived the flood with him (Genesis 10:1–2). Meshech (whose name means “long, tall, or drawn out by force”) is the sixth son of Japheth. The land of Meshech is closely associated with that of Tubal, especially in a prophecy of Ezekiel. The region of Meshech is often identified as being north of the Black Sea (southern Russia and Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia), and Tubal as an area in central Turkey.

The land of Meshech is used in Psalm 120:5 as a generic reference to barbarous regions where “those who hate peace” live (verse 6). The lands where Meshech’s and Tubal’s descendants settled figure significantly in some prophecies of Ezekiel, and it is in that book where they are mentioned most. In the prophecy of Ezekiel 38, Meshech and Tubal are ruled by Gog, a prince over those territories: “The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, “Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal”’” (Ezekiel 38:1–3). Ezekiel repeats God’s words of judgment against the descendants of the two sons of Japheth when he prophesies that God will defeat them in a war against Israel (Ezekiel 39:1–5).

Many biblical scholars equate the land of Gog in Ezekiel’s prophecies with Russia, who will attack Israel “from the far north” (Ezekiel 38:15). Meshech and Tubal could be two of the “many nations” joining Russia in their invasion of Israel (verse 6).

The advance of the alliance involving Meshech and Tubal will be like “a cloud covering the land” (Ezekiel 38:9). Some commentators believe this war, often called the Battle of Gog and Magog, will be one of the events leading up to the end-times’ tribulation. Others believe it will occur close to the midpoint of the tribulation, since Israel will feel secure at the time, “dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates” (verse 11).

God will defeat this powerful alliance (Ezekiel 38:22) to reveal His greatness to all the world (verse 23) and restore the people of Israel to a right relationship with Himself (Ezekiel 39:21–29). Meshech and Tubal, despite the strength of their numbers and help of their allies, will fall. (GotQuestions.org)

Cush: The Kingdom of Kush; Assyrian: was an ancient kingdom in Nubia, centered along the Nile Valley in what is now northern Sudan and southern Egypt.

Put – Phut or Put is the third son of Ham (one of the sons of Noah), in the biblical Table of Nations (Genesis 10:6; 1 Chronicles 1:8). The name Put (or Phut) is used in the Bible for Ancient Libya, but a few scholars proposed the Land of Punt known from Ancient Egyptian annals.

Gomer: The Hebrew name Gomer refers to the Cimmerians, who dwelt in what is now southern Russia, “beyond the Caucusus”, and attacked Assyria in the late 7th century BC.

Beth-togarmah: Togarmah is a figure in the “table of nations” in Genesis 10, the list of descendants of Noah that represents the peoples known to the ancient Hebrews. Togarmah is among the descendants of Japheth and is thought to represent some people located in Anatolia. Medieval sources claimed that Togarmah was the legendary ancestor of several peoples of the Caucasus -including Armenians and Georgians.

  1. The Great Tribulation. A period of seven years in which God’s judgment is poured out on sinful humanity (Revelation 6–16). The Antichrist’s rise to power is associated with this time period. During the tribulation on earth, the Church will be in heaven. It is thought that at this time the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will occur in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19:6–10).
  2. The abomination of desolation. At the midway point of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and shows his true colors. The Jews are scattered, and many of them turn to the Lord, realizing that Jesus is their Savior. A great persecution breaks out against all those who believe in Christ (Daniel 12:11; Mark 13:14; Revelation 12:17).
  3. The Battle of Armageddon, (Revelation 16:12-20). At the end of the tribulation, Jesus returns with the armies of heaven (Mark 14:62). He saves Jerusalem from annihilation and defeats the armies of the nation’s fighting under the banner of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:11–21). The Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
  4. The Battle of Gog and Magog, (Revelation 20:7-10). In the first part of the tribulation, a great army from the north, in alliance with several other countries from the Middle East and Africa, attacks Israel and is defeated by God’s supernatural intervention (Ezekiel 38–39). (Some commentators place this battle just before the start of the tribulation.)
  5. The judgment of the nations. Christ will judge the survivors of the tribulation, separating the righteous from the wicked as “sheep” and “goats” (Matthew 25:31–46). (It is thought that at this time the Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead.) The righteous will enter the Millennial Kingdom; the wicked will be cast into hell
  6. The binding of Satan. Satan will be bound and held in a bottomless pit for the next 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–3).
  7. The Millennial Kingdom. Jesus Himself will rule the world, and Jerusalem will be the capital. This will be a 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity on earth (Revelation 20; Isaiah 60–62). Memorial sacrifices will be offered in a rebuilt templein Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40–48).
  8. The last battle. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released from his prison for a short time. He will deceive the nations once again, and there will be a rebellion against the Lord that will be quickly defeated (Revelation 20:7–10). Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, never to reappear.
  9. The Great White Throne Judgment. All those in hell will be brought forth, and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment(Revelation 20:11–15). The verdicts are read, and all of sinful humanity is cast into the lake of fire.
  10. The new creation. God completely remakes the heavens and the earth. It is at this time that God wipes away all tears and there will be no more pain, death, or sorrow. The New Jerusalem descends from heaven, and the children of God will enjoy eternity with Him. (Revelation 21–22)

Finally, here is a table showing the alignment of World History, an historical overview of Daniel’s 70 Weeks and a Biblical Historical outline:

Timeline of World History compared to Biblical Timeline of Daniels 70 Weeks

I know that this is a long read and a long study, but, (#1), it is important for you, as a Disciple of Jesus to know where you are on God’s Timeline, (#2), what it means to you, (#3) what is required for you to be ready, and, (#4) what it means to be ready for what is at hand and (#5), how to prepare.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

 

 

WARNING: The Gospel of Accommodation

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

( David Wilkerson – World Challenge.org )

We are being told that Christianity is under attack. We can see these attacks in the mainstream media and through the legislative actions by many in our government.

But, the most insidious attack is coming from within the church. There are movements that look and sound like the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Bible, but they are counterfeit and dangerous. BEWARE.

Here is a video by David Wilkerson with such a warning:

Here are some more messages by Pastor Wilkerson:

“A Holy Remnant is Born”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(see another of our STRANGE false gospel warnings on video – scroll MIDWAY down on main page, What is this Strange New ‘gospel’?

The Christian Betrayal of Jesus in America

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

betrayal-of-jesus-john-13-18-30-1-728.jpBy the Church in America?

(Click on the image above for a video on 2 Corinthians)

Reading the Apostle Paul’s letters to the Corinthian Church (1 and 2 Corinthians) you can see images of the postmodern Western Church. Even the best of the Western Churches are drifting or have drifted away from the teachings and the model of The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they are embracing a heresy, an apostasy in the name of Christianity.

You read about the demands of this generation for a gospel and a religion that better suits their life goals and their lifestyle.

So, in the 21st century, the church has responded, “We must adapt to the current culture in order to reach them”. And adapt they have. Speaking the words of the Gospel but presenting them in a brand-new light of APPEASEMENT, WEALTH, SUCCESS, COMFORT, BOUTIQUE POLITICS, ELOQUENCE, EXCESS, and ENTERTAINMENT.

The result are in:

barna chart (2).jpg

In an article by Christopher Howard, (Fox News) we read, “Religion is a topic that seems to be at the bottom of the list of what Millennials value. When asked whether religion was very important, a large number of young people said they “broke free” from their former religions. Stella, 18, a student of N.Y.U. said her parents raised her with two religions, her mother being Protestant and her father being Jewish.

“They really gave me the opportunity to pick where I wanted to go, and I picked neither,” she said.

Millennials acknowledge the shift in religious values from the former generation to now — some cite the age of social media and the exchanging of information as the reason for the disconnect.

“Femi, a student at Columbia University, feels like marriage has become “archaic.” “A lot of us, we were raised by our parents, and we saw those marriages kind of deteriorate, and even if they did stay together the love might have not been there. I feel as we progress these institutions, whether it be marriage or religion, they start to seem archaic.”

Many churches resent this proposition. But, the evidence is in, and it is clear: The Bible says to “Go…make disciples” and the verdict is that the church is making “congregants”, not disciples. Congregants who attend church in dwindling numbers, inviting people to the local church instead of introducing them to Jesus. Some even shout the name of Jesus on Sunday but remain silent about His Name the rest of the week.

Paul’s Dispute with the Church in Corinth, which is more true today, can be better understood in the video (above).

The Corinthians disregarded Paul because he dressed poorly, he earned a poor and meager living was under constant persecution, and he was not an impressive public speaker.

The Corinthian Christians admired and preferred wealthy and eloquent leaders and asked Paul to prove his authority.

Paul points out that the Corinthians preference for wealth and eloquence was a betrayal of Jesus and shows a totally distorted value system..

True Christian Leadership is not about status or self-promotion or success in ministry.

Paul says the Christians in the Corinthian Church are his proof, as God’s new covenant people.

Rather than seek wealth and status, Christians should embrace the paradox of the cross and the cruciform life that transforms them to love and serve.

They had to adopt and embrace a “Cruciform Life” and so must we.

Could it be that the breaking of the 5th Seal is beginning?

Jesus says, in Matthew 24:9, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

Verse 10. “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.”

Has the Tribulation Begun?

We must remain ready.

  • Let’s DO IT,
  • Let’s DEMAND IT,
  • Let’s DEVOTE ourselves to it.

Your Brother and Friend

Mike and Betty on the Beach.jpg

Mike Young

TIME IS RUNNING OUT.  WE MUST TURN AWAY FROM WESTERN POST-MODERN RELIGION, AND RETURN TO JESUS AND HIS GOSPEL AND PRACTICE THESE THINGS

Come and join us in the harvest, as we go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He commanded; and lo, He is with us always, even to the end of this age. Contact me for further information on how.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

 

PROTECTING THE INNOCENT – PURGING THE GUILTY

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

There are many good pastors and preachers in many good Bible-based churches in America. But there are very few courageous and Godly men left in the pulpits in America.

Courageous men who are filled with the Holy Spirit and unafraid to speak the truth of God’s Word but, they rarely speak in anger or out of frustration. They do not seek to teach for the sake of knowing. They do not seek to make a name for themselves, and they certainly do not preach to entertain.

This type of man speak hard truth, and in doing so, he is patient and kind. He is not jealous; and does not brag, and he is not arrogant. He does not act disgracefully, does not seek his own benefit; and is not easily provoked. He does not keep an account of wrongs suffered. He does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; He keeps confidence in God,  believes all things true. His hope is fixed firmly on Christ, so he is able to endure all things.

This rare man stands in the gap. Ezekiel 22:30 the Lord says, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land, so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” The word picture painted in this verse is that of a wall with a hole or a gap in it. A wall was the best means of protection in ancient times. A breach in the wall would let the enemy through. If there was a breach in the wall, defenders would have to swarm to that location and hold the breach. The gap would need to be repaired as soon as possible. If a breach was left unattended or unrepaired, the city would fall.

Ezekiel 22 summarizes the sins and abuses of the nation. As punishment for Israel’s sins, God says He will disperse them among the nations. He says in verses 31, “So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

The “gap” here represents the danger facing Jerusalem: God’s wrath is about to break through in judgment on the sinful city. Was there no one who would, in righteousness, intercede on behalf of the city and seek God’s mercy? God searched for such a defender, but He could find none. It seems that, if someone had been willing to “stand in the gap,” the destruction of Jerusalem could have been avoided. Since no one was available or willing to defend the breach and rebuild the wall, judgment fell.

America has fallen into gross sin and rebellion toward God and is facing God’s judgment. Listen to this sermon by pastor Trent Casto, a man who preaches the truth of God’s Word without fear is a man who is willing to Stand in the Gap in our day. Listen carefully.

Senior Pastor Trent Casto, Covenant Church of Naples, P.C.A., 6926 Trail Boulevard, Naples, Florida, 34108, phone 239-597-3464, convenantnaples.com.

(Excerpts printed with permission.)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

I have grown tired of the kind of hope that is a wishful thought. We, all, desperately need the Hope that is a confident, expectant, joyful knowledge.

Here, now, is Hope. Read it. Meditate on this. Repeat it to yourself. Make it your own. FOR THE MIND SET ON THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE (Romans 8:6b)

(The text below is modified from the Biblical text to personalize it. Click on the Psalms 34 for the unedited text).

(Psalms 34).

I will bless the LORD at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul will make its boast in the LORD;

The humble will hear it and rejoice.

Exalt the LORD with me,

And let’s exalt His name together.

 

I sought the LORD and He answered me,

And rescued me from all my fears.

 

I looked to Him and am radiant,

And my face will never be ashamed.

This wretched one cried out, and the LORD heard me,

And saved me out of all my troubles.

 

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,

And rescues them.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;

How blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him!

 

Fear the LORD, you, His saints;

For to those who fear Him there is no lack of anything.

The young lions do without and suffer hunger;

But they who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.

 

Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Who is the person who desires life

And loves length of days, that he may see good?

I will keep my tongue from evil

And my lips from speaking deceit.

I turn from evil and do good;

I seek peace and pursue it.

 

The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous,

And His ears are toward their cry for help.

The face of the LORD is against evildoers

To eliminate the memory of them from the earth.

 

I cry out, and the LORD hears me

And rescues me from all my troubles.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted

And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

The afflictions of the righteous are many,

But the LORD rescues me from them all.

He protects all my bones,

Not one of them is broken.

 

Evil will bring death to the wicked,

And those who hate the righteous will suffer for their guilt.

 

The LORD redeems the souls of His servants,

And none of those who take refuge in Him will suffer for their guilt.

Memorize and visualize one section of Psalm 34 (color coded) each day, adding the previous day until you know and can see all of this Psalm in your heart and mind.

This is a powerful and prophetic truth. Make it your own.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 6:19-20
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2.

The Bible tells of a Hope that kind of Hope and that we can be changed by God and will one day see Christ face to face, having been conformed to His image

1 Timothy 1:1 tells us that, by the commandment of God, that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Hope, and Deuteronomy 33:27,  reminds us that this Hope is eternal.

THE GLOBAL MARCH TO MARXIST-COMMUNISM

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 2 Comments

I have tried to articulate the inescapable and inexorable march of the world into the death grip of Marxist-Communism. Several of my ‘well educated’ friends keep saying that is nonsense because communism is dead. It died with the old Soviet Union. Yet, here we are, at the precipice. I listen and watch the political elite of the Right and the conservative pundits as they point out all the evils and failures of the Left, but it is little more than empty complaining. They argue over the daily stream of ‘false flags’ and the ‘socio-political and economic brush fires’, but do nothing in response to the real problem. In fact, the Right, (Republicans, Conservatives, most Independents), have absolutely no idea where the Left has taken this world, with all the nations and all its inhabitants. It is all hidden in plain sight. The only way to deal with the problems we face is to recognize the END GAME of the Left. Each and every actionable program of the Left is focused on their END GAME: Complete Marxist-Communist domination. HOW CAN I KNOW THIS IS TRUE? Let’s begin by reviewing this list of quotes.  Tell me if any of these things have come to pass in American (and the world) recently:

  • “Take away a nation’s heritage, and they are more easily persuaded.“ (historical landmarks torn down, religious symbolism destroyed, rewriting of history).
  • “Communism begins where atheism begins. “ (Church attendance is falling to dramatic lows; over 50% of those attending church don’t believe the Bible is true or that Jesus was born of a virgin, and more.)
  • “The education of all children, from the moment that they can get along without a mother’s care, shall be in state institutions.” (Government control of education, ‘no child left behind’, Critical race theory taught at all levels of schools, national association of teachers (Marxists in nature), Federal Education Department.)
  • “We have no compassion, and we ask no compassion from you. When our turn comes, we shall not make excuses for the terror.” (Black Live Matter, Antifa, burning down our cities, killing people, Defund Police movement, murder in our streets, schools and churches, and the LEFT blames the gun.)
  • “The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism.” (This is the rally cry of the American democrat party.)
  • “If you can cut the people off from their history, then they can be easily persuaded.” (Revision of text books, historical data, historical sites.)
  • “The democratic concept of man is false, because it is Christian. The democratic concept holds that each man is a sovereign being. This is the illusion, dream, and postulate of Christianity.” (Paganism taught in schools, government and many churches.)
  • There are, besides, eternal truths, such as Freedom, etc., that are common to all states of society. But Communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion, and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis; it therefore acts in contradiction to all past historical experience.”
  • “The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all private property.”
  • “When the sufferers learn to think, then the thinkers will learn to suffer.”
  • “The Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. “
  • “The last capitalist we hang shall be the one who sold us the rope. “
  • A heavy or progressive or graduated income tax is necessary for the proper development of Communism. “
  • “The first requisite for the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion.
  • “The unity is brought about by force. “
  • “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs. “
  • “There is no greater stupidity than for people to marry and so surrender themselves to the small miseries of domestic and private life. “
  • “Taxes are the source of life for the bureaucracy, the army and the court, in short, for the whole apparatus of the executive power. Strong government and heavy taxes are identical. “

The foregoing are quotes by  Karl Marx, one of the founding fathers of Commnism.

  • ​“Give me your four-year-olds, and in a generation I will build a socialist state. “
  • “We can and must write in a language which sows among the masses hate, revulsion, and scorn toward those who disagree with us. “
  • “The press should be not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, but also a collective organizer of the masses. “
  • “The goal of socialism is communism. “
  • “Why should freedom of speech and freedom of press be allowed? Why should a government which is doing what it believes to be right allow itself to be criticized? It would not allow opposition by lethal weapons. Ideas are much more fatal things than guns. Why should any man be allowed to buy a printing press and disseminate pernicious opinions calculated to embarrass the government? “
  • “The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation. “
  • “People always have been, and they always will be, stupid victims of deceit and self-deception in politics. “
  • “Give me just one generation of youth, and I’ll transform the whole world. “
  • “One man with a gun can control 100 without one. “
  • “As an ultimate objective, “peace” simply means communist world control.”
  • “Atheism is a natural and inseparable part of Marxism, of the theory and practice of scientific socialism. Our program necessarily includes the propaganda of atheism. “
  • “It is, of course, much easier to shout, abuse, and howl than to attempt to relate, to explain. “
  • “Medicine is the keystone of the arch of socialism. “
  • “One of the basic conditions for the victory of socialism is the arming of the workers Communist and the disarming of the bourgeoisie to the middle class.”
  • “The best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves. “
  • “Give us the child for eight years, and it will be a Bolshevik forever. “
  • “There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience. A scoundrel may be of use to us just because he is a scoundrel. “
  • “We are not shooting enough professors. “
  • “Germany will militarize herself out of existence, England will expand herself out of existence, and America will spend herself out of existence. “
  • “It is necessary – secretly and urgently, to prepare the terror. “
  • “The establishment of a central bank is 90% of communizing a nation. “
  • “We want to achieve a new and better order of society: in this new and better society there must be neither rich nor poor; all will have to work. Not a handful of rich people, but all the working people must enjoy the fruits of their common labor. Machines and other improvements must serve to ease the work of all, and not to enable a few to grow rich at the expense of millions and tens of millions of people. This  is the new and better society, and it is called a socialist society. “
  • “There can be nothing more abominable than religion.”

The foregoing are quotes by Vladimir Lenin, founders of Communist Leninism.

SECONDLY, WATCH THIS VIDEO by the World Economic Forum, (Globalist-Marxist), in cooperation with the United Nations, in concert with the Agenda-2030: “8 PREDICTIONS FOR THE WORLD IN 2030”

THIRD, If you have the time, study this web page, “EXPLOSIVE DOCUMENTS – THE SECRET BUYOUT OF AMERICA”, and be sure to read each and every link for heretofore ‘secret details’ found in Government Documents of the Marxists takeover of America and the world! Rather than spending billions of dollars and endless hours arguing over each and every program and point of the LEFT, we must expose the END GAME and take radical action to stop their advance, eradicate the opponent’s base, and put an end to this four century-old war.  FOURTH, EDUCATE YOURELF.  Become familiar with the basics of the major conflicting and competing socio-political and economic systems that guide and control our lives. Use these charts:

CAPITALISM                                   SOCIALISM                              COMMUNISM

Private Ownership         Limited Private Ownership          No Private Ownership Market Forces                   Govt + Private Ownership             Central Government Class Distinction              Limited Class Distinction              No Class Distinction (You Choose)                      (Govt allows some choice)           (Everyone is poor) Produce for Profit             Produce for Societal needs                For Basic Needs  

Differences between Capitalism, Socialism and Communism

Differentiating Factors Capitalism Communism Socialism
Ideology Maximisation of profit by any means necessary. It also believes in Laissez-Faire, a philosophy that emphasizes on leaving circumstances to run their natural course without any external intervention From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs From each according to his ability, to each according to his contribution

For a complete chart, click on this text:  CAPTIALISM   VS.  SOCIALISM   VS   COMMUNISM

NOTE:  From the Communist Manifesto: “Socialism is the first necessary step from Capitalism to Communism. Once Communism is established, Socialism is done away with, discarded”.

Complimentarian Systems explained:

Marxism Communism
A political ideology based on Karl Marx’s ideas is known as Marxism. A political system based on Marxist ideology is known as Communism.
Marxism can be considered as the theory. Practical Implementation of Marxism could be considered as Communism.
The framework on which a state is developed is known as Marxism A stateless society where all the people are considered equal and treated equally is known as Communism.
Marxism is a way to view the world, a system of analysis. A form of Government, condition of a society, a political movement can be considered as Communism.
The transformation of society into Socialism, and ultimately to Communism is the philosophy of Marxism. Communism also believes in the same transformation, but the differentiating factor between the two is the path that needs to be taken for the transformation to take place. Communism believes in the transformation through revolutions.
One may not say that the birth of Marxism was dependent on Communism. The very existence/birth of Communism depended on Marxism.

Rudolph Joseph Rummel (born October 21, 1932) is professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii. He has spent his career assembling data on collective violence and war with a view toward helping their resolution or elimination.

​Find this information at Hawaii . edu – powerkills

Human costs of communism.  Few would deny any longer that communism-Marxism-Leninism and its variants, meant in practice bloody terrorism, deadly purges, lethal gulags and forced labor, fatal deportations, man-made famines, extrajudicial executions and show trials, and genocide. It is also widely known that as a result millions of innocent people have been murdered in cold blood.”

​communism stats.jpgThe total is 259,432,000 murdered at the hands of communism.  ​Museum of Communism by Bryan Caplan.

 

FINALLY, take a Look at the History of THE TOWER OF BABEL.  The Bible tells of the beginnings of the idea of a One World Government and warns this system is coming again – in the Last Days. “They said, ‘Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’ “The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. “The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.” Genesis 11:4-6.

DON’T BE DECEIVED The agenda of this “migration” and Globalism or One World Government is not the stuff of just any book. It is stuff of THE BOOK, that is The Bible. Genesis chapter 11 gives us the prophecy, the foreshadowing of the coming One World Government.

The Tower of Babel, built around, 2242 B.C., was a post-Flood rebellion against God by Noah’s descendants. As told about in Genesis 11:1-9, it is meant to explain why the world’s peoples speak different languages. According to the account, a united humanity in the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating eastward, comes to the land of Shinar (שִׁנְעָר). There, they agree to build a city and a tower tall enough to reach heaven.

(NOTE: “tall enough to reach to heaven” can be a metaphor for “man reaching to heaven, making himself god, to accomplish his own desires. This is the ‘Utopian dream’ of the Socialist and Communist manifestos; the State being our god – from cradle to grave)

This effort of uniting in a global community has been underway for about 4,200 years, about 100 years after ‘The Flood’, but before Abraham was born. This is ‘forecast’ or what is Prophesied in the Bible. Is it underway? Should we PREPARE?

NOTE:  Becoming aware of, or even educated on these matters, won’t change much UNLESS YOU AND I DO SOMETHING, NOW!  Read on and find a complete guide to ACTION.  1.  USE THIER OWN BOOK ON THEM: The methods used by radical Leftists as taught in Saul Alinsky’s book, are demonstrably and ostensibly used by the American Democrat Party, by Joe Biden’s “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021”, within the U.S. Sustainable Development Goals, within the Communist Constitution and Program 2015, by the United Nations Agenda 2030 and by the World Economic Forum.

Marxists-Globalists’ Rule #1.  “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.” Power is derived from 2 main sources – money and people. “Have-Nots” must build power from flesh and blood.

The Counter-Culteral Weapon of Truth to The Marxist-Globalists’ Rule #1.
Romans 1:16
 
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
 

Rule #2.  “Never go outside the expertise of your people.” It results in confusion, fear and retreat. Feeling secure adds to the backbone of anyone.

The Counter-Culteral Weapon of Truth to The Marxist-Globalists’ Rule #2.
 
Psalm 91:1
 
One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty.
 
Job 11:18
Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely.
 

Rule #3.  “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy.” Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty.

The Counter-Culteral Weapon of Truth to The Marxist-Globalists’ Rule #3.

Leviticus 25:18

‘You shall therefore follow My statutes and keep My judgments so as to carry them out, so that you may live securely on the land.

Rule #4.  “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000 letters. You can kill them with this because no one can possibly obey all of their own rules.

Rule #5.  “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” There is no defense. It’s irrational. It’s infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions.

The Counter-Culteral Weapon of Truth to The Marxist-Globalists’ Rule #4,5.

Ephesians 6:14

Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Rule #6.  “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.” They’ll keep doing it without urging and come back to do more. They’re doing their thing, and will even suggest better ones.

Rule #7.  “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.” Don’t become old news.

Rule #8.  “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.” Keep trying new things to keep the opposition off balance. As the opposition masters one approach, hit them from the flank with something new.

Rule #9.  “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.” Imagination and ego can dream up many more consequences than any activist.

Rule #10.  “The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.” It is this unceasing pressure that results in the reactions from the opposition that are essential for the success of the campaign. If you push a negative hard enough, it will
push through and become a positive.

Rule #11.  “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.” Never let the enemy score points because you’re caught without a solution to the problem.

12. “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions.

(Remembering, our ways are not the ways of the world. Do all things to the glory of God.)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

whitestonefellowship1@gmail.com

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

FURTHER READING:

8 LIES BY THE LEFT

Prophecy Fulfilled in 2022.

SECRET U.S. GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS on the Sell-out of America.

AGENDA-2030, The United Nations, Marxist-Globalism.

AMERICA UNDER SIEGE (8-part series).

ACTION POINT:  A CORD THRICE BRAIDED

THE JOURNEY TOWARD PERFECTION (14-part series).

CONTENTS

  1. Introduction – In Search of Perfection
  2. Does God Exist?
  3. Did God Create All Things?
  4. Mankind – The Seminal Moment
  5. The Point – Historical Events, Sequential and Relevant?
  6. Clues to the End of the Age – The Great Flood
  7. Clues to the End of the Age – The Flood of Daniel 9
  8. Clues to the End of the Age – The Flood of Matthew 24
  9. Clues to the End of the Age – The Flood of Revelation 12
  10. Clues to the End of the Age – The Tower of Babel & One World Government
  11. Clues to the End of the Age – The Covenants & God’s Plan for Perfection
  12. The Framework and Progression of World and Biblical History
  13. The Premillennial, Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church
  14. The 5th Tribulation Seal – The Apostasy, Martyrs, The Peace Treaty, The Antichrist
  15. Come, Reason with Me – The Construct and Progression of Epochs of Time
  16. The Social Order
  17. The New World Order
    1. The Great Reset
  18. The Tower of Babel Rebuilt – Agenda 21
  19. The Natural Order – Darwin Says ‘No’
  20. Science Says ‘No’
    1. Is Nature Warning Us?
    2. A 2000 year of weather forecast?
  21. God Says – The Bible is Warning Us
  22. Update to Agenda-21 – Socialist-Marxist Agenda-2030
  23. Where are we Now – The Socialist-Marxist Takeover
    1. It Started with Poverty; it Ends in Poverty
  24. Where are we Now – The Great Apostasy
  25. What is Next – The Antichrist
  26. What is Next – The Mark of the Beast
  27. What is Next – Digital Currency
  28. Where Do We Go From Here?
  29. A Concurrence and Convergence of Events & The Tribulation Seals
  30. The 6thTribulation Seal – What Am I To Do?
  31. Confronting Evil in our Day
  32. Ready for His Coming
    1. What does it mean to ‘be ready’?
    2. What should I do to ‘get ready and stay ready’?
    3. Keys to the Kingdom
    4. Rapture Ready – A Presentation
  33. After All These Things – A Recap
  34. Epilogue

 

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – Part 16

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN– Part 16

John 2:1, “On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Verse 2. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. Verse 3. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” Verse 4. And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

These verses and this incident is regarded as Jesus first miracle. A closer inspection reveals something more. This is a contrast in perspectives, a contrast in paradigms. It is not too much to say that, since His birth, this is a first glimpse of Messiah. The Christ is arrived, the transformation is beginning. Nothing will ever be the same again.

The mother of Jesus, like most of us, is busy with earthly matters. Her concerns are focused on a wedding and the need of wine for the guest’s pleasure and comfort. So, she informs Jesus that the wine has been depleted. One can only assume from this that she either wants Jesus to fetch more wine, or she is aware of His ability to miraculously deal with the issue.

However, considering

  1. What Mary had heard from Gabriel at the Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38),
  2. What the angel told Joseph in his dream, presumably (Matthew 1:18–25);
  3. What Elizabeth told Mary by the Holy Spirit at the Visitation (Luke 1:39–56);
  4. What Gabriel told Zechariah about his own son John, presumably (Luke 1:5–23);
  5. What the shepherds told Mary at the Nativity they heard from the heavenly host (Luke 2:8–20); and
  6. What Simeon and Anna told Mary at the Presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:22–38).

It is with a high degree of certainty that Mary knew Jesus could deal with this matter miraculously.

Jesus’ blunt sounding response to His mother is revealing: John 2:4. “And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

The words He uses and the way in which Jesus addresses His mother, at first sounds irreverent and disrespectful. A closer inspection of the language shows us that is being both instructive and corrective, considering that His mother would ask such a thing.

Jesus is aware that His mother knows of His abilities and nature.  He is plainly stating that His abilities are for the purpose of the calling and mission of His Father. Jesus had not come to serve man’s pleasures, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 6:38)

Jesus is clearly, at this time, not ready to reveal His nature as God as His time has not yet come, and this was not the only time.

  • Matthew 8:4, “And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
  • Matthew 16:20, “Then He gave the disciples strict orders that they were to tell no one that He was the Christ.”
  • Mark 8:30, “And He warned them to tell no one about Him.”
  • Luke 8:56, “Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.”

As His time neared, Jesus says these life changing words, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word, (logos), which I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me, and My words, (rhema),remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

You can read Jesus’ words at their face value and get what you need. But in case your understanding is incomplete or, your faith is weak on this matter, read a few words from Jesus’ prayer to His Father on our behalf, found in John chapter 17, “But now I am coming to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. And for their sake I sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.”

“I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

We are one with Jesus and with God our Father. We remain in Him and His Words remain in us. We now have the mind and attitude of Christ. Now, we may ask whatever we wish, and it shall be done unto us!

PLEASE read the following carefully:

As most of you should know, we have entered the Last Days as spoken of in the Bible. We have witnessed the breaking of the first four Tribulation Seals, and are now witnessing the breaking of the 5th Tribulation Seal, the great apostasy and falling away from the faith, and an increasing persecution of saints; a time when good is called evil and evil is called good. We see the unleashing of the spirit of antichrist all over the world.

We are nearing the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, and the intensity is rising. We are seeing nations rising against nations, and kingdom against kingdom, and there are famines and earthquakes in various places. And because lawlessness has increased, we see that most people’s compassion is  growing cold. Jesus has warned us that all these things are merely the beginning of the birth pains, and it is the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved.

Jesus’ hour has come. You and I can live without fear. Doubts are calmed. Our needs are met. Our past is forgiven, and our future is secure. There is no weapon formed which can prosper.

I pray this will be a word of instruction and encouragement. I also ask that you read each page link for a complete teaching and greater understanding as the Day of the Lord draws near, so you will be ready to successfully endure to the end, being found doing what our Lord has commanded.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Previous chapter: The Gospel of John, Episode 15