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.

IT AIN’T EASY – BEING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” Matthew 4:23.

Imagine, if you can, what would happen in a world where medical technology was practically non-existent; no pharmaceuticals, no hospitals, the doctors’ training was less than rudimentary, and a man begins to heal every disease and every affliction among the people.

“So, his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” Matthew 4:24-25.

Imagine the stories, the rumors, the wonders and confusion that would have spread among people. Imagine the crowds that would begin to search for this man and would begin to make pleas to Him, beg Him and demand help from Him. This man was Jesus, and IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EASY on Him.

DISCIPLES GIVEN AUTHORITY

Read further with me in Matthew 10:1, “And Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.”

“Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.” Matthew 10:5-8.

MAKE DISCIPLES TO DO WHAT JESUS HAS DONE

And, finally, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20.

IMAGINE ACTUALLY BEING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS

You call yourself a Christian, right? Why is that? Why do you call yourself a Christian? Is it because you ‘said a little prayer, said you love Jesus, and accepted Him into your heart?” Is it because you do ‘good things’ in Jesus Name?

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will do what I have told you.” John 14:15.

Jesus said, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:21

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23.

Calling ourselves a Christian is easy. But being a Christian, being a disciple of Jesus, AIN’T EASY – It is hard. But, just imagine! Yes, just imagine.

Just go and do it!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Olivet Nazarene University Proclamation Choir

IT AIN’T EASY – MAKING DISCIPLES FOR JESUS

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Many churches say witnessing or ‘soul winning’ is easy. They will say you just go into a neighborhood, and knock people’s doors, hand out literature and invite them to church.

Some other churches suggest inviting your neighbors to church at Easter, Christmas or to a special event.

This is NOT witnessing or making disciples, but it is easier than actually ‘witnessing’ about Jesus. These examples may be a starting place, but what we are told by Jesus is to “go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that Jesus commanded”. IT IS NOT EASY, so we improvise?

If you read the account of Jesus calling His first disciples, you might get the idea, “Oh, how easy is that?!”.  The (Greek) language in Matthew 4:18-22, tells us that Jesus was walking around the Sea of Galilee “on purpose and with purpose”, anticipating the men He knew He would encounter. His words were simple and direct. The response is sudden and astonishing.

On the other hand, take a look at the results of two of Jesus’ disciples when they tried making disciples for Christ:

The Apostle Paul had gone to the church in Jerusalem to tell his brothers and sisters of the great things God was doing through the churches, and everyone was praising God. Then, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing Paul in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who instructs everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place!” For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they thought that Paul had brought him into the temple. Then the whole city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. While they were intent on killing him.” Acts 21:27-31.

Well, that was not easy! It sounds more like an epic witnessing failure!

Or how about Stephen? Full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people, but some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. They were unable to cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom Stephen was speaking, so they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away. They shouted and rushed at Stephen, drove him out of the city, and stoned him to death. Acts 6:8 – Acts 7:60.

Ugh! Stoned to death. Nothing easy there, either!

Hebrews 11:36-38 tells us that “others experienced mocking and flogging, and further, chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes in the ground.”

What’s going on here? None of this sounds like something me or any of my Christian friends would dare try. And, by the way, did someone say this was going to be easy? Did they say we could do this? (You know, we are more used to ‘Tuesday night witnessing and visitation night’.)

Still, the early Church grew exponentially. There must have been something worth more than just living life. (As it turns out, it is Jesus and eternal life with Him; and some people found it.)

Honestly, though, it has been not easy witnessing Jesus to others over the decades since Jesus was on earth. It has been even harder to make disciples –  and is no easier today. There are many places in our world that still persecute and murder Christians for their testimony and for their witness. You may encounter rejection or ridicule in the Western world, but greater persecution may well be coming to your hometown, soon.

Still, this is our calling and Jesus’ command and commission to us. Go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that Jesus commanded.

Let’s just say it upfront: THIS ISN’T GOING TO BE EASY!

There is a good example of one who followed Jesus. The Bible tells us of “a man, one sent from God, and his name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.” John 1:6-8.

John (the Baptist) said this about his calling, his witness and about making disciples:  “I am the voice of one calling out in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord.’ I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.  It is He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the strap of His sandal.”  He said it, he did it, but it cost him everything. It was hard, but it was worth every minute.

I’ve tried to do what Jesus has told us to do, and I have tried to do what John said to do. I have almost always been reluctant and afraid, but at times I would just start talking.

EXAMPLES from EXPERIENCE:

One time, after a lawsuit settlement, the judge asked me why I was so generous to the plaintiff when it was shown the plaintiff and his lawyer had lied in depositions. The judge told me that because of that, I did not need to concede anything. “And, how were you able to stay so calm?”, the judge asked me.

Instead of answering directly, I related the story of Abraham and Lot, and how honoring God would bring blessings. I had known the plaintiff and had been good friends with his father, since this guy was a teenager. I felt more like an uncle to him. The judge said, “That’s quite a story”, to which I said, “Yes, and it’s the truth”.

As a result, I was able to talk to the judge about Jesus, and he was responsive.

Another example is when I had made friends with a man who had Parkinson’s disease. He, his wife and I were having lunch one day, and I asked him if he believed in God. He said he did believe in God. I asked if I could pray for him, whereupon he became enraged. He cursed me and told me to stay away from him, and to this day, he avoids me. (His wife later apologized and said she did not understand his attitude or behavior.) I had gone from being a friend to a hated adversary. This really confused and hurt me.

IT AIN’T EASY.

On another occasion, I was watching a young man, who was working as a landscaper’s helper. It was hot, he was tired, and not making much money. I sensed or decided to encourage him and to tell him about Jesus. He stopped his work and listened. I said something to the effect, “Excuse me. May I talk with you a minute?”

He responded, “yes”.

“I have just had a thought – I believe it was from God, and He told me to give you a message. Would that be O.K. with you?”

The young man smiled slightly and nodded, ‘yes’.

“God wants you to know He loves you and has a better plan for your life. A plan to help you and to provide for you in ways you cannot imagine, right now”, I said.

The young man asked what I meant, and was I a preacher?

“I am a follower of Jesus”, I told him, “And, God wants me to tell you that He has a greater plan for your life. A plan to prosper you and not to harm you. It all starts with you calling on Him and asking Him to make you His child. It will change everything for you if you will stay with it.  Are you willing?”

Tears formed in this young man’s eyes, and he nodded, ‘yes’.

I reminded him, this will not be easy. You will have to endure the changes that will have to take place, but things will never be the same for you!

We prayed together. I gave him my phone number, and although I never heard from him again, I still think of him and pray for him.

YOU CAN DO THAT, TOO.

Another example is a time I witness to an attorney before testifying at a divorce proceeding. During that time, I talked to one of the lawyers about God’s love for them and His hatred of divorce. He was not happy about it, but, said he did not know and did not care if he died and went to heaven.

Then, during depositions, I testified to how God hates divorce but loves both this husband and wife and each person in the courtroom. I finished with as a personal witness for one of the couple.

Then a lawyer exclaimed, “Do you realize all of what you have said, now has to be read in open court?!”

I told him, I did not know that, but so much the better!”

Praise God! What a great surprise. (ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT).

I have had numerous similar experiences like these, but there have been other times when I have been rejected and turned away. There have been times when I was yelled at, cursed and verbally threatened.

It is never easy. Let me say it again – It just AIN’T EASY. But the more you try, the more courage you will gain. I would say, even if it isn’t easy, just do it!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.”  Matthew 7:21-23

(OUCH! That ain’t easy!)

PREVIOUS:  IT AIN’T EASY – THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

NEXT:  IT AIN’T EASY – TO BELIEVE

 

THERE AIN’T NO CURE – FOR GOD’S LOVE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  John 3:16.

There He hung on a cruel Roman cross for all to see. The humiliation, the shame, the pain. But make no mistake, He had changed everything, forever. Neither the cosmos nor this world would ever be the same again. IT HAD BEGUN!

And “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10.

Friends, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.” 1 John 4:6 7 & 16.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

WEARY AND BURDENED?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.”

Matthew 11:28-29

AN URGENT PROPHETIC WORD

Do you ever feel worn down and worn out? Your spirit is so downcast that you wonder if you will ever be able to get up again? Do you just feel like crying from spiritual, emotional and physical exhaustion, sometimes? Perhaps, you have tried everything you know to do and yet you hunger for some relief? Then, this is for you.

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

There are times that we grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh – but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us – Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.

God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee He has given us His Holy Spirit.

So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by faith and not by sight.

Yes, we are fully confident, even though we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, so we would be at home with the Lord. But whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please Him.

For we know that we must all stand before Christ to be judged and we will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

It is good to know this, but knowing it alone is not enough. We must understand it. We must put it on. It is our calling.

We Are God’s Ambassadors

“Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.

“So, are we commending ourselves again? No. But, we are giving you a reason, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.

“This may seem crazy, but it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for everyone’s benefit.

“Either way, it is because Christ’s love controls us.

“Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that, we too, have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

 A Heavenly Perspective

“So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

“And all of this is a gift from God, Who brought us back to Himself through Christ.

“God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

 We Fix our eyes on what is Eternal

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (Taken from 2 Corinthians, chapter 5)

  1. Our present journey through life is temporary – but as a Christian, it is with a great purpose.
  2. We may long to be home with God, but we have a task, a calling, now, in this life.
  3. We do not live or work for ourselves but we live for Christ and His Cause.
  4. We are working to persuade a few that God has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ
  5. We see things and people from a heavenly perspective – that is, from God’s point of view.
  6. Our task is to reconcile people to God through Christ.
  7. We are Ambassadors for Jesus, pleading with others to, “Come to God” through faith in Jesus.

We must take our eyes and our minds off of ourselves and earthly matters and spend ourselves on The Call of Christ. The things which ensnare us also hold us captive. If you want to be free, give yourself away, to Him.

Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young

Although we are strangers and sojourners, scattered throughout , we are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ.     

(1 Peter 1:1,2)

IT AIN’T EASY – THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.  And the tempter came”  Matthew 4:1-3

Jesus showed us how we would be tested if we choose to follow Him, that is after becoming a Christian. He has shown us the way to resist the devil and to overcome his testing and temptations. There is nothing easy here.

The word “Temptation” as used here describes a “trial,  a testing, a proving trial.

It is the trial of man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy;  the enticement to sin, arising from personal desires or from the outward circumstances;

In this case, it is the temptation by which the devil sought to divert Jesus the Messiah from his divine errand; It is also the way the devil will attempt to divert you, and it AIN’T EASY!

It also shows the condition of a person, a mental state, by which we are enticed to sin, or to a lapse from the faith and holiness;

It comes from adversity, affliction, trouble, sent by God and serving to test or prove one’s character, faith, holiness.

Jesus set the example and showed us why God sends trials and temptations our way.  He tested His own son to show us what to expect and how we are to react.  Notice:

1. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit – God initiates the trials.

2. Into the wilderness – No food, no water, no resources, no earthly help for 40 days.

3. To be tempted by the devil – In a weakened state, alone.

This part of the Judean desert or wilderness could be arid, fiercely hot and waterless.  There were predatory animals prowling and roving bands of thieves.  Imagine how the dangers of geography, climate and the barren landscape could affect and test your body, mind and spirit.

This actually happened. It also serves as a type of metaphor for you, today: There will be ‘predatory animals’ prowling and roving bands of thieves lying in wait for you.  Imagine how the dangers of geography, climate and the barren landscape will affect and test your body, mind and spirit. IT AIN’T EASY, Brothers and Sisters!

Then, “after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came”  Matthew 4:1-3

This is the condition, and these are the type of circumstances which will truly prove a disciple.  Jesus deliberately and willingly followed The Spirit into a hostile wasteland to be tested. This is also a choice you will have to make to follow Jesus.

In a desperate physical condition, Jesus was tempted by Satan, first with His physical need of food.

Next, His soul was tempted with pride of life.

Finally, His Spirit was tempted with glory and honor.

Jesus was tried, tempted and tested, and He overcame the temptations of the Body, the Soul and the Spirit.  He has shown us the way! (Matthew 4:1-11).

We would do well to study this and commit it to memory so that anytime you are tested and tempted you will say,

1. ‘I SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

2. ‘I SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD MY GOD TO THE TEST.’”

3. ‘I SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD MY GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”

And then, and only then, the devil will leave you; and even the angels will come and minister to you.  (Matthew 4:11).

If someone told you about an “easy salvation” or some kind of “cheap grace”, don’t believe it. This is tough. But, have you ever found anything in life that is cheap or easy that had any lasting value?

Are you getting the idea that being saved is not easy, and it is not supposed to be easy?  Following Jesus is not easy, but there is no adventure like it. Rather than a temporary pleasure on earth, then an eternity in darkness and fire, you will find both purpose in life now and then eternal peace with God; things the eye has not seen, and the ear has not heard — the things God has prepared for those who love him!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

COMING NEXT:  IT AIN’T EASY – MAKING DISCIPLES FOR JESUS

Previous: IT AIN’T EASY – THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

PS: Please stay with me. This ends really well! You have to see this at the end!

IT AIN’T EASY – THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A wild looking man, who came to be known as ‘John the Baptist’ , was found in the Judean wilderness, (an extremely dangerous, hot and arid desolate wasteland), preaching a message of repentance.  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John was the consummate evangelist and follower of Jesus.

John wore a garment made of camel’s hair. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey, preaching a message, which at that time would have been considered both odd and unheard of.  People began to think that perhaps this man was the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet.

People from all over Jerusalem, Judea and the region around the Jordan and were coming to John, questioning him, asking, “Then what are we to do?”  And he would answer and say to them, “The one who has two tunics is to share with the one who has none; and the one who has food is to do likewise.”

Now even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what are we to do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.”

And soldiers also were questioning him, saying, “What are we to do, we as well?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone, nor harass anyone, and be content with your wages.”

Now while the people were in a state of expectation, and they all were thinking carefully in their hearts about John, whether he himself perhaps was the Christ. John responded with a hard message to them, saying, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but He is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the straps of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John’s reputation, his activities and the crowds drew the attention of the Jewish Pharisees and Sadducees, whom John challenged, calling them ‘offspring of vipers’ and daring them, asking, ‘who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’.  John also challenged their authority, saying, “Produce fruit consistent with repentance; and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham. And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.“

John the Baptist’s courage and confrontational style earned him the reward of being beheaded by King Herod Antipas around A D 28.  Not easy!

There was nothing easy here. Nothing that would seem even remotely pleasant to an individual in our 21st century postmodern church, although this was the early pattern for the Church.

Why were so many coming to John in a desert wilderness and to the Jordan River to be baptized? It was not easy!  But so few come to be baptized in our comfortable and easy postmodern churches today?

The true seeker of God, the one who wants to be changed and saved; those who want to follow Him and to be His disciple, knows that Jesus and the Gospel of Christ changes people and circumstances – and they know It Ain’t Easy – but it is worth it!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  PLEASE stay with me! This is going to get ‘really good’.  Wait until you see what is coming!  Honestly, I hope this changes all of our minds about how we approach God and our response to Him! I pray this leads us on the Adventure He always promises!!

COMING, NEXT:  THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS – IT AIN’T EASY.

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IT AIN’T EASY GETTING TO HEAVEN

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“IT AIN’T EASY TO GET TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN”

“Just whisper this prayer after me”, they said. “Right where you are, right where you are seated, repeat this little prayer after me and you will be saved”, they said. “It’s easy”.

Yeah, right! But you forgot to tell me…

I have watched as the Christian Church has turned aside from the clear teaching and example of Jesus to find a better way, an easier way, a fun way, a way to fit the desires and passions of men and women, boys and girls.

Let me tell you, there is no other way than what Jesus taught and demonstrated, and the way is clearly recorded in the Bible, and IT IS NOT AN EASY PATH!

If you call yourself a Christian, please read and consider what is presented, and ask yourself, is the “hard road” worth it?  If you are not a follower of Jesus, you too, please read, think and consider, could it be worth it?

THE BIRTH OF JESUS – It was not easy!

We are told amazing stories, we see magnificent plays and hear beautiful music about the birth of Jesus – especially around the Christmas holiday.

But let me tell you, nothing about the birth of Jesus was easy. It was hard. Very hard. Consider this:

A young Jewish woman named Mary was betrothed to a young Jewish man named Joseph. Beside satisfying the tradition and the law surrounding marriage at that time, complications arose when Mary discovered she was pregnant; but she had not been with any man. The ramifications of this discovery could have been devastating. Besides the humiliation, the shunning and rejection by Jewish society, Jewish law proscribed severe penalties. This would not be easy.

Joseph, upon hearing about Mary’s condition, decided to keep matters private and to send her away, secretly.  But Joseph, upon hearing from an angel sent from God, through a dream, was told the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit and that she would give birth to a Son; and Joseph was told not to be afraid. He was to name Him Jesus, for The Child will save His people from their sins.

Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded. He took Mary as his wife, kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and named The Child, Jesus.”  This was not easy, either.

Next, a census was ordered by Caesar Augustus, requiring all Jews to travel to their hometown to register. Joseph and Mary went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, in order to register.  If the trip would not be hard enough, Mary was near the end of her pregnancy and had to travel by foot and from the city of Nazareth in Galilee, to Bethlehem in Judea, a trip of about 70 miles. This trip would have taken between four and five days.

It never gets easier, in fact, things seem to get worse. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to give birth. The Bible tells us that there was no room at the inn, so they had to go to a barn, or as it was called in those days, a manger, to give birth.

Finally, word of the birth of a “King of the Jews” reached King Herod, so he began a search for this child with the intention of killing him. God forewarned Joseph to run to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to be saved. Herod was so thorough, that he had every boy child under the age of two years killed, in all of Bethlehem. Finally, when Herod died, Joseph, Mary and Jesus returned to Nazareth.

There was NOTHING easy about any of this! So, maybe the question we should ask: “Was It Worth It?  Is It Worth It?”.

Please stay with me as we hear more about what it takes to be saved, and we can try to decide: IS IT WORTH IT? WOULD IT BE WORTH IT?

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST – IT AIN’T EASY

ENGAGING THE ANTICHRIST IN BATTLE – TODAY!

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

AND THEY OVERCAME SATAN BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB  AND BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY, AND THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIFE EVEN WHEN FACED WITH DEATH. – Revelation 12:11

I have written a myriad of articles about this world’s present Biblical tribulations, the coming Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the End of this Age. Now, I am presenting a Biblical Answer:  What must our response be if we are to endure to the end to be saved!

There is a war which has been raging in the heavens for untold centuries. Isaiah 14:12-14 tells us of Lucifer being cast out of heaven. Daniel 10:12 tells of the Angel Michael at war with Kingdoms of Persia, and Ephesians 6:12 tells us that “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.”

There have been wars and deadly personal conflicts on earth, even before recorded history. The Old Testament of the Bible tells of numerous wars and Holy wars. All of these wars and conflicts have been leading us to the great and ‘final battle’.

The book of Revelation tells of a coming war, the final war, that will be fought both from the Heavens and on the earth. It is known as the war at Armageddon. Revelation 16:12–16 is the record of what will happen toward the end of the tribulation, when an angel pours out the sixth bowl of judgment on the earth, which marks the mid-point of the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 19:11–20 records a final battle which occurs during the period of Christ’s second coming. Jesus will return as ‘the conquering Christ’, and will defeat the forces of the Antichrist. This is a description of the Battle of Armageddon as mentioned in Revelation 16.

These wars on the earth are a ‘reflection’ or a result of the wars being waged in the heavens. These wars are both distinctly separate, yet they are mysteriously one and of the same.

 WHAT IS SEEN HAS NOT BEEN MADE OUT OF THINGS THAT ARE VISIBLE – Hebrews 1:3

How can this be? Reading Hebrews 1:3 we discover that it is “By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.

Again, in 2 Corinthians 4:18 we read that, “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Finally, Hebrews 1:1 tells us, “Now faith is the certainty of things expected, the proof of things not seen.”

What does this have to do with you and me?

We have read about or have heard about these wars, but until we are touched by them, they are just distant tragedies in the minds of most people. But listen dear friend, there is a war coming, and it is already on the horizon, spilling over the borders of heaven and onto the earth, sweeping toward you like a swelling wave with the destructive fury of a terrifying tsunami.

Jesus warns, in Revelation 12:7-12, that this “war in heaven, with Michael and his angels, waging war with ‘the dragon’. The dragon and his angels will wage this war, but they will not prevail, and there will no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon is to be thrown down, that is the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he is thrown down to the earth, and his angels are thrown down with him. Then John heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. For this reason, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

It is difficult to imagine a war being fought in heaven which is also being played out on earth. The final battle will be fought by Jesus and the armies of heaven. It is a mystery that while all of this comes to pass on the earth, it has already taken place in the heavens. Jesus is already the conquering King and Satan is the vanquished foe. But we must still endure this battle in our earthly existence.

Just as mysteriously, 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. Our battle is fought by being strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Our battle is fought with the full armor of God.  We will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil by having belted our waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on our feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all of this we take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And we must take the helmet of salvation and wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We will engage this battle with our fervent prayers and requests; praying at all times in the Spirit. With all this in view, we must stay alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints.

TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH

John 18:37,says, “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.”   This, too, is our calling and our method of resistance in these Last Days!

TO BRING A SWORD

Matthew 10:34, Jesus said, “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.”  This, too, is our calling and our method of resistance in these Last Days!

 TO FULFILL THE LAW

In Matthew 5:17 , “Jesus said, “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.”   This, too, is our calling and our method of resistance in these Last Days!

TO CALL SINNERS

Mark 2:17  says, “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.”  This, too, is our calling and our method of resistance in these Last Days!

TO SAVE THE WORLD

John 12:47 , Jesus says, “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.”   In a very real sense, This, too, is our calling and our method of resistance in these Last Days, lifting the Name of Jesus, telling others and leading them to Him.

TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH

In Luke 12:49 , “Jesus says, “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;” This, too, is our calling and our method of resistance in these Last Days!

  “WHAT HE REALLY MEANT?”

John 14:12, “Jesus says, “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. Verse 13. And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Verse 14. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

This is what the Bible says. It is the method and model of Jesus. It is our calling and our duty. Please, brothers and sisters, anything less is failure.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PERFECTION – Chapter 18 – Science says ‘NO’

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

SCIENCE SAYS

“NO”.

IS NATURE WARNING US?

  • Red Alerts – Arctic Lands Grow Greener.
  • Scientist Find Record Warm Water in Antarctica, Cause of Glacier Melt.
  • Sea Level Rise could Reshape the United States, Trigger Migration.
  • Climate researchers can now detect the fingerprint of global warming in daily weather observations at the global scale.
  • Groundwater depletion in America’s West.
  • Climate warming disrupts tree seed production.
  • Climate warming, speeding up earth’s ocean currents.
  • A worldwide push toward One World Government (Globalism).
  • Worldwide anarchy, wars and rumors of war.
  • Climate changes of historic proportions.
  • Strange new and threatening diseases.
  • Global Pandemics.
  • Droughts, famines and increasing frequency of earthquakes.

With all that is going on in the news, it is easy to overlook a recent article appeared on a Fox News feed, (excerpts)

“The Arctic is figuratively and literally on fire — it’s warming much faster than we thought it would in response to rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and this warming is leading to a rapid meltdown and increase in wildfires,” University of Michigan environmental school dean Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist, said in an email.”

“The record warming in Siberia is a warning sign of major proportions,” Overpeck wrote.

“Persistently warm weather, especially if coupled with wildfires, causes permafrost to thaw faster, which in turn exacerbates global warming by releasing large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that’s 28 times stronger than carbon dioxide, said Katey Walter Anthony, a University of Alaska Fairbanks expert on methane release from frozen Arctic soil.”

“Methane escaping from permafrost thaw sites enters the atmosphere and circulates around the globe,” she said. “Methane that originates in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. It has global ramifications.”

“That seems to weaken and sometimes even stall the jet stream, meaning weather systems such as those bringing extreme heat or rain can stay parked over places for days on end, Cohen said.”

FEAR-MONGERING or FACT?

The weather channel has an article saying “A new study has found the Gulf Stream is circulating at its slowest rate in at least 1,600 years, contradicting reports to the contrary. Climate change is to blame for the slowdown, the study concluded. If the circulation stops completely, it would have catastrophic impacts on our weather.”

The article briefly states that “some scientists who weren’t involved in the study agreed with the findings, but others said a lack of data left them skeptical of the study. MIT professor Carl Wunsch said the study’s “assertions of weakening are conceivable, but unsupported by any data” in an interview with the AP.

“A separate study, also released in the journal “Nature“, claims the 150-year slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, (AMOC), is a result of natural changes, not man-made climate change. But both conclude the slowdown is occurring, and it could impact our weather in the coming years.”

Most leftist Politicians, liberal politically-progressive scientists and meteorologists like to blame humans and modern technology for the variations in the weather and climatological changes, pronouncing these meteorological variations as a dooms-day for earth. They have alternately called it ‘global warming’ or ‘climate change’, predicting catastrophic effects for the earth and humanity.

Their solution, of course, is to limit technology, raise taxes, redistribute our national wealth to underdeveloped countries, implement Socialist-Marxist ideologies and practices of the U.N.’s “Agenda-2030”. It is the Socialist-Marxist’s grandest plan of subterfuge, deceit and lies.

Because their doctrines and belief systems forbid it, they exclude two-thousand-year-old warnings from the Bible about the weather:

A 2000-YEAR-OLD WEATHER FORECAST:

“Revelation 7:1, says, “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.”

Here is an example of the manifest effects of the God’s judgment on the world, through nature and what would happen if the winds stopped blowing, (and the Bible says, at a given and specific point, the winds are going to stop blowing):

“It would rarely rain in inland locations (wind moves moist air over dry spots and falls as rain). All land not near a body of water would turn into a desert.

“There would be more extreme temperatures (the warm/cold air over the ground would not be replaced by the steady temperature air of the oceans and seas).

“The trade winds would no longer exist, and ocean stream currents would eventually stop. This would to serious climate changes. (The Gulf Stream keeps Europe warm).”

“After a few days the problem arrives. Without wind systems, warm, moist air won’t move around. Water might still evaporate, but it won’t travel, meaning anywhere away from a large body of water will dry up. Lakes might be alright as the evaporating water will fall back into them and the sea will be fine but anywhere else will get very dry, very quickly. Plants, animals and humans will slowly die from dehydration with most water inaccessible as salt water or ice. Even if we survive this, the problems don’t stop. The equator will no longer shed its heat as quickly, so it will become very warm, mountains may remain cool enough to be habitable but nowhere else will. At the same time, the poles, deprived of heat from the equator, will freeze solid.”

NEXT:  PERFECTION – Chapter 19 – ‘God Says – The Bible Says’.

PREVIOUS:  PERFECTION – Chapter 17 – Natural Order

———————-

ALSO, THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION – PDF FORMAT.

ALSO, THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION – AN ONLINE BOOK

Cometh the Horsemen – Pandemics, Wars, Famines – Dr. Jordan Peterson and Michael Yon

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

First, let me say that I have written, over the last ten years, about the present and unfolding events of the ‘Biblical Tribulation Period’ foretold in many Old Testament prophetic scriptures and in the New Testament.  These events will find their fulfillment in the future; and that future is now!

​​Isaiah 2, 9, 11, 13        Matthew 24,         Zechariah 8       2 Peter 3:3.

Micah 4                       Hebrews 1:2,         Ezekiel 30          Revelation 6:1 – 16:21

Jeremiah 30, 33, 50  Hebrews 9:26,      Amos 5

Hosea 3                       Acts 2:14-17,          1 Peter 1:20,

Joel 2, 3,                      2 Timothy 3:1,       1 Peter 4:7,

These events are leading us through the judgment Seals, and to the judgment Trumpets and Bowls (found in the books of Matthew and The Revelation and), leading us to The Great Tribulation, God’s Wrath upon the earth and the End of this Age.

Secondly, if you don’t know about him, I want to introduce you to Dr. Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. From 1993 to 1998 he served as assistant and then associate professor of psychology at Harvard. He spent fifteen years writing Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief (1999; released in June 2018 as a now bestselling author-read audiobook). Maps of Meaning is a scholarly investigation into the nature of narrative and religious thought, the structure of perception, the regulation of emotion.

Dr. Peterson has become one of, if not The Leading Voice and thought for the Conservative movement, worldwide. He is hated and reviled by many on the Left, Globalists, Marxists and progressives, but they have been unable to contend with his brilliance.

Here is a recent video of Dr. Peterson as he interviews Michael Yon, an American writer and photographer. He served in the Special Forces in the early-1980s, and he became a writer in the mid-1990s. He focused on military writing after the invasion of Iraq. Yon has been embedded on numerous occasions with American and British troops in Iraq, most prominently a deployment with the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment (Deuce Four) of the 25th Infantry Division in Mosul, Iraq that ended in September 2005.

This video is an interview and discussion between two experienced, studied, accomplished, dedicated and brilliant men that borders the prophetic.  Michael Yon, one of America’s youngest Green Berets at 19 years old, has traveled and lived over half of his life abroad in more than 80 countries . Author of three books in the United States and three others in Japan, he is America’s most experienced combat correspondent. Michael Yon joins Dr Jordan B Peterson to discuss the current state of affairs across the globe.

Dr. Peterson says, “We are heading into one of the most epic famines in world history, where the poor will freeze in the dark and burn in the sun while they starve.”

Stay on the alert. Jesus is coming, soon!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

The 7 Churches of Revelation – Part 2

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

WHAT DOES IT SAY?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

The Revelation of Jesus Christ – PART 2.

These messages are from God, given to Jesus to show His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. Jesus sent and communicated these messages by His angel to His bond-servant, John the Revelator. John then gave these messages to the seven churches in Asia.

Please, for your own sake and for the sake of those around you, DO NOT diminish the importance, the accuracy nor the profound impact these messages and these Words of God will have on you and your life.

They are describing what is coming soon, how  you will be affected and how you are to respond to escape the Day of His Wrath. Please heed the instruction of these messages to the Church.

If these messages were solely and exclusively to and for the churches in Asia, the message would have ended there. However, God’s Word is eternal and these messages in particular are prophetic and are therefore written to all people who call themselves Christians, of all the ages as a warning, a teaching and as instruction.

These messages were written to you.

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.

Message to the Seven Churches

Verse 4. “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, verse 5, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— verse 6, and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Verse 7. BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

Verse 8. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Message to you and to the Church at Smyrna

Revelation 2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

Verse 9. “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the slander by those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Verse 10. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Verse 11. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’

Those in the Church at Smyrna,

(1). Are suffering tribulation and poverty, but are rich (also see 1 Peter 1:3-8).

(2). Are slandered by Jews what are ‘a synagogue of Satan’.

(3). Are to suffer prison, more tribulation and death.

(4). They will get the crown of life from Jesus.

(5). They will overcome and will not be hurt by the second death.

 

((NOW, ASK YOURSELF, (INSERT YOUR NAME HERE):

Are you, (YOUR NAME HERE), suffering tribulation and poverty, but are rich because of Jesus?

Are you slandered by ‘Christians’ for your commitment to Christ Jesus and His Gospel?

Is your service to God bringing a threat of prison, tribulation and even death?

 

Message to you and to the Church at Pergamum

Revelation 2:12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:

Verse 13. ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold firmly to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. Verse 14. But I have a few things against you, because you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. Verse 15. So you, too, have some who in the same way hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Verse 16. Therefore, repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. Verse 17. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows except the one who receives it.’ “

We can know that the Church at Pergamum,

(1). Dwells where Satan’s throne is yet holds firmly to God’s Name and do not deny faith in God. (I.e., The Pergamene believers lived in a difficult place, surrounded by pagan influences, yet they held fast to Christ’s name and did not deny Him during difficult times.)

(2). Held to the teachings of Balak, eating things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

(3). Held the teachings of the Nicolaitans, (eating things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality).

Some in the Church at Pergamum denied what Biblical prohibitions against sexual immorality, (homosexuality, fornication, adultery), to their own harm and judgment, much like many professing Christians, today.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: The Message to the Church at Thyatira

PREVIOUS: The Message to the Church at Ephesus.

More Reading: What Does It Say? What Does it Mean?

1. What do the seven churches in Revelation stand for? | GotQuestions.org
What do the seven churches in Revelation stand for? Do the seven churches in Revelation predict seven eras of church history?
2. Are the “angels” of the churches in Revelation 1-3 real angels, or are they human messengers? | GotQuestions.org
Are the “angels” of the churches in Revelation 1-3 real angels, or are they human messengers? Why were the letters in Revelation 2-3 written to an…
3. What are the seven candlesticks / lampstands of Revelation? | GotQuestions.org
What are the seven candlesticks of Revelation? How are the seven lampstands related to the seven churches of Revelation?
4. What do the seven stars represent in Revelation? | GotQuestions.org
What do the seven stars represent in Revelation? How are the seven stars related to the seven churches?
5. What are the seven spirits of God? | GotQuestions.org
What are the seven spirits of God? Do the seven spirits of God refer to the fact that God is complete and perfect?

The 7 Churches of Revelation

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

WHAT DOES IT SAY?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

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 [a]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.

Message to the Seven Churches

Verse 4. “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, verse 5, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Verse 7. BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

Verse 8. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

The Patmos Vision

Verse 9. “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Verse 10. I was in the [i]Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, verse 11, saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Verse 12. “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands; Verse 13. and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash. Verse 14. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. Verse 15. His feet were like burnished bronze when it has been heated to a glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. Verse 16. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun [m]shining in its strength.”

Verse 17. “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, verse 18, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Verse 19. “Therefore, write the things which you have seen, [o]and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. Verse 20. As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

The Message to the Church at Ephesus

Revelation 2:1. “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

“The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 

Verse 2. ‘I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; verse 3, and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. Verse 4. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Verse 5. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Verse 6. But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Verse 7. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’

Pastor Alistair Begg, in his opening remarks when preaching on Revelation 3:1-6 & 3:14-22, correctly said,

“In the material that was sent to me and to the other speakers—but the passage that relates directly to my task—I was directed as follows: “The Bible reader will expound the text but will also focus on Christ as revealed in the text.” “The Bible reader will expound the text and focus on Christ as he is revealed in the text.” What an immense privilege, to have the opportunity to take the Bible, to study it, and then to be able to share it with others, and in all of that to have our gaze turned again and again to the Lord Jesus! “I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.”[2] Therefore, it is an immense privilege for us. For of all the places we could be on this morning, all the circumstances that we might face, in the providence of God, he has ordered our steps—none of us is here by chance—in order that we might hear from the risen Lord Jesus Christ himself.

“Now, I used that little chorus purposefully in prayer, asking that God would show himself to us in the reading of the Word. There is an inherent danger in it though. If you know it, or if you listened carefully as I said it, it says, “Make the Book live to me.” And the great, inherent danger in the study of the Bible is that we want to move immediately from our reading of the text to personal application.

“And so, from time to time, especially in a small group context, after you’ve read a portion of Scripture like this, it’s not long before somebody in the group will say, “Let me tell you what this means to me”—which, of course, is of interest but is of secondary importance. Because what the individual may be about to say may actually be true to the text, may be actually helpful to the rest of the group, and in actual fact, it may be completely bizarre. And the only antidote, then, is to come to the text of Scripture not saying, “Let me tell you what this means to me,” initially, but coming to the Scripture saying, “Let me find out what this means.” And once I understand what it means in the context in which it has been delivered, then and only then may I begin to make points of personal application.

“So, it’s important for us this morning to recognize that what we’re dealing with here is history and geography, as real as any history and geography that we may have done for our GCSEs. We’re dealing with real churches in real places, real men and women, real families, living at a certain point in time. And from the passages we know that Jesus understands their condition, he understands their circumstances, and he writes to them expressly in the awareness of the context in which they’re living.”

What I appreciate in Jesus’ message and Alistair’s remarks, is that The Revelation is about real churches in real places, real men and women, real families, living at a certain point in time. And from the passages we know that Jesus understands their condition, he understands their circumstances, and he writes to them expressly in the awareness of the context in which they’re living.” I will go on to say that people don’t change. People may be different, one from another, but people do not change. So, in a very real and accurate way, Jesus is talking to, not just those people in those churches in Revelation chapter 3, but He is talking to all people, everywhere, of all times. He is talking to you and to me.

I will leave it to you, the reader, to satisfactorily study and come to understand WHAT THESE VERSES ARE SAYING, and WHAT THEY MEAN, which is no easy task. Reading various commentaries will give you as many opinions, which are varied and complex. But the one I like for brevity and accuracy is found at GotQuestions.Org, “What are the Seven Candlesticks – Lampstands of Revelation?”

However, I will move on to the application of these verses – WHAT DO THEY MEAN TO ME (or, what Am I To Do with What I Know?).

It has always been a difficult task to apply these verses since there are so many differing views of what they say and what they mean. We know that God speaks in a language unique to the hearer, one thing we can discern is the characteristics of the churches and the people receiving these letters. Read and decide which attributes, characteristics and personalities you possess.

Revelation 2:1. “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

“The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 

Verse 2. ‘I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; verse 3, and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. Verse 4. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Verse 5. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Verse 6. But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Verse 7. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’ “

Those in the church in Ephesus, like some other people,

(1). Are known by their good deeds, labors and their perseverance, (endurance);

(2). Cannot tolerate evil people, and

(3). They have put those, who call themselves apostles, to the test,

(4). and have found them to be false;

(5). The Ephesians have perseverance and have endured on account of Jesus’ name, and have not become weary.

(6). But they have left their ‘first love’ of Jesus and the things of God.

(7). They have fallen, from the deeds they did at first;

So, I will suggest a more novel approach. Let’s assume that God has written these letters, not only to real churches in real places, and to real men and women with real families, living at a certain point in time, but He has also written to you and to me.

You and I would do well to decide which of these characteristics describe us, and to describe those characteristics in greater detail. (I.e., “What is meant by ‘good deeds’ and which have I done? Etc.)

Let’s begin…

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, addressed to: (YOUR NAME GOES HERE).

Revelation 1:1 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servant, (YOUR NAME GOES HERE), 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 are you (INSERT YOUR NAME), when you and others read, and hear the words of the prophecy and when YOU keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Message to you and the Seven Churches

Verse 4. John to (INSERT YOUR NAME), and the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, verse 5, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— verse 6. and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Verse 7. BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So, it is to be. Amen.

Verse 8. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

The Patmos Vision

Verse 9. “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Verse 10. I was in the [i]Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, Verse 11, saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Verse 12. “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands; Verse 13, and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash. Verse 14. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. Verse 15. His feet were like burnished bronze when it has been heated to a glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. Verse 16. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

Verse 17. “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, Verse 18, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Verse 19. Therefore, write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. Verse 20.  As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

Message to you and to the Church in Ephesus

Revelation 2:1 “To:   The angel of the church in Ephesus, write:

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

2 ‘(INSERT YOUR NAME), I know your deeds (which are?), and your labor (which is?), and your perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and, (INSERT YOUR NAME), you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary.

Verse 4. “But, (INSERT YOUR NAME), I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Verse 5. “Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

Verse 6.But you have this, (YOUR NAME), that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’

((NOW, ASK YOURELF (INSERT YOUR NAME):

1.  What are my deeds Jesus is referring to? (If you cannot answer this, beware.)

2.  What are my labors Jesus is referring to? (If you cannot answer this, beware.)

3.  What is my perseverance Jesus is referring to? (If you cannot answer this, beware.)

4.  What is it I cannot tolerate (about evil people) Jesus is referring to? What have I done about that evil? (If you cannot answer this, beware.)

5.  How did I test those who call themselves Apostles? How did I find them false? (If you cannot answer this, beware.)

6.  What is it I hate about the Nicolaitans? (Do you even know about the Nicolaitans? If you cannot answer this, honestly, beware.)

7.  How did I not become weary? (You never will weary if you are not doing anything. Right?)

8.  From where have I fallen? (If you cannot answer this, beware.)

What were my ‘first deeds’? (If you cannot answer this, beware.)

This is a ‘reality check’. The postmodern church in America is unfortuatley striving to keep us comfortable while we wait on the rapture. (Big mistake). Jesus said we are to be found doing what He commanded  us to do when He returns, or?

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: THE CHURCHES AT SMYRNA AND PERGAMUM.

More Reading: What Does It Say? What Does it Mean?

1. What do the seven churches in Revelation stand for? | GotQuestions.org
What do the seven churches in Revelation stand for? Do the seven churches in Revelation predict seven eras of church history?
2. Are the “angels” of the churches in Revelation 1-3 real angels, or are they human messengers? | GotQuestions.org
Are the “angels” of the churches in Revelation 1-3 real angels, or are they human messengers? Why were the letters in Revelation 2-3 written to an…
3. What are the seven candlesticks / lampstands of Revelation? | GotQuestions.org
What are the seven candlesticks of Revelation? How are the seven lampstands related to the seven churches of Revelation?
4. What do the seven stars represent in Revelation? | GotQuestions.org
What do the seven stars represent in Revelation? How are the seven stars related to the seven churches?
5. What are the seven spirits of God? | GotQuestions.org
What are the seven spirits of God? Do the seven spirits of God refer to the fact that God is complete and perfect?

PERFECTION – Chapter 19 – The Bible Says

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(You can listen to this article on audio, and you can pause the audio to follow important page links which give details on this study; then resume the audio when you are ready. NOTE: I use page links in lieu of references and footnotes, which are important to this study. )

GOD SAYS – THE BIBLE SAYS

THE BIBLE IS ALSO WARNING US

Why is knowing the timing and sequence of a Biblical explanation of the tribulation period important in relation to a historical timeline. The answer is that it is because historical events, both which have already occurred and those which are yet take place,

(1), will be the direct results of Bible prophecy unfolding in this natural realm, and,

(2), we will have a physical historical timeline which we can identify, and finally,

(3), we will be greatly affected by these coming events and advanced knowledge of them and their approximate timing gives us the opportunity to respond as the Bible teaches so we can endure and survive these calamitous and catastrophic events.

Matthew chapter 24 and Revelations chapters 6 through 16 of The New Testament of the Bible, tells of a period of time known by various names such as “The Tribulation”, “The Last Days  or the “Latter Days”, and warns and gives great details of a coming period of Great Tribulation, cataclysmic and scope, both cosmic and terrestrial in nature, followed by “The End The Age”. (Also see Studylight.org; Also see Revelation 19-22).

This has been a great mystery throughout history. But it no long needs to be.  Here is the Tribulation Timeline, in summary (Pre-Wrath-tribulation):

Section A.1.

The Last Days began in our around AD 30 to AD 69 as confirmed by Jesus and several Apostles found in

(One of the first, most accurate, and most persistent advocates of the Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church can be found at Zion’s Hope, with videos on this site).

Finally, in this 21st century, there are a few prominent Bible teachers who are now arriving at this same conclusions (John Piper, and Corrie Ten Boom).

The opening of Tribulation Seal ONE began between AD 60 and AD 30, and perhaps as early as AD1.   Seals ONE through FIVE have been broken, progressively, up until this day. We are now standing at the precipice of the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal .

Section A.2.

With the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal we will see that THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31 & Revelation 6:12-16)

Section A.3.

Sometime after the rapture of the church, which occurs at the 6th Seal, the Antichrist enters a treaty with Israel. This begins the seven-year tribulation.

Section A.4.

At the midpoint of the tribulation (1,260 days later), the Antichrist breaks the treaty, desecrates the temple, and begins to persecute the Jews.

Section A.5.

At the end of the tribulation (1,260 days after the desecration of the temple), Jesus Christ returns to earth and defeats the forces of the Antichrist.

Section A.6.

During the next 30 days (leading up to 1,290 days after the desecration of the temple), Israel is rebuilt and the earth is restored.

Section A.7.

During the next 45 days (leading up to 1,335 days after the desecration of the temple), the Gentile nations are judged for their treatment of Israel.

Section A.8.

The dispensation of the millennium begins, and it will last for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:3, 5–6).

Here is a more complete and detailed description of the Tribulation Timeline. Concern yourself with the first SIX SEALS.

Section B.1.

The ‘tribulation period of birth pangs‘ (Matthew 24:8 & Revelation 6) begins with the breaking of the 1st Tribulation Seal and continues through the 5th Tribulation Seal, during which time we will see the

    • Apostasy,
    • the great persecution of Christians,
    • the revealing of the man of perdition and
    • the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and her enemies.

The 1st Seal of the tribulation was being broken just after the death and resurrection of Christ and the succeeding seals (Seals 2 – 5) have been broken at various periods of time since AD 30 and that we have now entered the time of the breaking 5th Tribulation Seal. Jesus refers to this period, the breaking of the tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE as “the beginning of the birth pangs”, and He points out that “this is not yet the end”.

Section B.2.

Then, with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal , THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD, THE GREAT TRIBULATION, BEGINS. (Matthew 24:29, & Revelation 6:12)

As witnessed by, Matthew 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Verse 30. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. Verse 31. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET, and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

Section B.3.

The “7 years of Great Tribulation”, (also known as Daniel’s 70th week,) begins with the breaking of the 6th tribulation seal, and, will reach the mid-point of the tribulation period, (after 3.5 years) with the sounding of the 6th Trumpet of the Great Tribulation.

Section B.4.

Then, the Great Tribulation will end with the pouring out of the 7 Bowls of Wrath.

– THE TRIBULATION JUDGMENTS LEAD TO THE END OF THE AGE –

The world has endured, and is enduring, the first 4 tribulation seals, and is now experiencing the beginning of the 5th tribulation seal.  Concern yourself with being ready before the breaking of the Tribulation 6th Seal and the Great and Terrible day of the Lord!

Here is a short outline comparing Jesus’ account of the Tribulation period both in the Book of Revelation and in the Book of Matthew:

 

Revelation Ch. 6 – as corresponding to – Matthew Chapter 24

the 1st Tribulation Seal  –  Global conquest and political intrigue. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

the 2nd Tribulation Seal –  Wars and Rumors of War. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

the 3rd Tribulation Seal  –  Famine. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

the 4th Tribulation Seal  –  Death. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

the 5th Tribulation Seal  –  Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away. (This Seal was broken between A.D. 1 and A.D. 95, has been ongoing and has been overlapping the other Seals, and has been intensifying.)

The 6th Tribulation Seal  –  Cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun. (The Opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal is yet to come. It is The BEGINNING OF the 7 years of “THE GREAT TRIBULATION” period, also known as The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb.)

  • Sealing of the 144,000
  • The Rapture
  • Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God

All of these things and this historic time had been recorded, in various books of the Bible and is foretold in great and frightening detail, particularly in the Book of Revelation. You simply need the “eyes to see” and “the ears to hear”.

THE ENTIRE EARTH IS GROANING (link).

“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.  And not only this, but also, we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.   For in hope, we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?   But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Romans 8:19-25)

Previous Chapter: PERFECTION – Chapter 18 – Science says

Next Chapter: PERFECTION – Chapter 20 – The Socialist-Marxist Movement.

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

THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION.pdf

The Oracles of the Book of Mark – Chapter 1

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

The Book of Mark – click the image above or this text for a video

New American Standard Bible

Preaching of John the Baptist

Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”,

Mark begins at the beginning: The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the Good News of Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One, Who, was in the beginning with God, and was God, the Son of God.

Please note that Mark does not start with a ‘warm up speech’ or an interesting lead-in or a joke. He does not give us an outline or a sociopolitical background. He omits the geography, traditions and customs of both the Jews and of Jerusalem around 65 A.D.. (That comes later.) Mark simply begins with what the reader needs to know, first: The Prophetic Truth, the historic Truth and the Eternal Truth of God, and he does that in just eleven words: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”.

The Prophetic Truth emanates from Isaiah 40:2-3,

Isaiah 40:2 just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“Behold, I am sending My messenger [a]before You,
Who will prepare Your way;
Verse 3 The voice of one calling [b]out in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight!’”

(1). The Purpose to be fulfilled is God’s perfecting of His people in preparation for the End of The Age through purging, cleansing, and refining. Then the destruction of the wicked, the Beast, Satan, the heavens and earth, making way for a new and perfect heaven and earth where His Chosen will live in perfection with Him forever.

(a). Isaiah 40:3-5. A voice is heard calling on unseen agencies to prepare a way for Jehovah through the desert. The idea expressed is that already the spiritual and supernatural forces are in motion which will bring about the return of the captives and a revelation of the Divine glory to all the world.

(b). Isaiah 40:6-8. A second voice calls on the prophet to proclaim the fundamental truth on which the realization of his hope depends,—the ‘perishableness’ of all human power, and the enduring stability of the word of the Lord.

(c). Isaiah 40:9-11. The prophet himself now takes up the strain; he summons a company of ideal messengers to announce to Zion and the cities of Judah the advent of Jehovah with His ransomed people.

(2). The Promise to be fulfilled that is Jehovah will return with His people to their ancient abode. This second division contains three sections:

Now, Mark turns our attention to the ‘voice heard calling out in the wilderness’,

Mark 1:4, “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”, and this prophecy is being fulfilled.

(Please note, these verses and this passage is deeply Prophetic, mysterious and is for our instruction. Prophecy can be a ‘one time event’ or it can be an ‘ongoing event’ which is not completed until the consummation of a period of time or the consummation of the age.

This is distinguished by the context and the tense of the verb used:

Present Tense is an action completed in the present.

Perfect Tense is an action completed in the past and need not be repeated.

Future Tense is an event which has not yet occurred.

Aorist Tense is an action which has no regard for the past, present or future – it is repeated until it is consummated. A continuing action or act.)

NOTE: As part of the mystery of this Word, ALL FOUR of these tenses are used in these few verses.  Here is an example of each tense being used.

This is complex, but I will simply as much as possible.

(Red lettering unedited and is from the New American Standard version of the Bible; Purple lettering is an explanation of the use of each tense by way of commentary and Strong’s Bible Concordance):

Mark 1:2, “just as it is written (Perfect Tense) in Isaiah the prophet:

(I.e., (in the Perfect Tense), Mark 1:2, “just as it is  written in Isaiah the prophet, and does not need to be repeated:

“BEHOLD (Aorist Tense), I AM SENDING,

(I.e., (in the Aorist Tense), BEHOLD FROM THE PAST, BEHOLD NOW, AND CONTINUE TO BEHOLD UNTIL THE AGE IS CONSUMMATED”,

(Present Tense) MY MESSENGER BEFORE YOU,

(I.e, in the Present Tense), “I HAVE SENT, AND THIS IS A COMPLETED ACTION,”

“WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY (Future Tense);

(I.e., (In the Future Tense), “WHO, IN THE FUTURE, WHEN THE TIME COMES, WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY”,

Verse 3. “THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT (Present Tense) IN THE WILDERNESS,

Verse 3. (I.e, in the Present Tense),“THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT an action completed in the present). (Present Tense) IN THE WILDERNESS,

‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD (Aorist Tense),

(I,e., the Aorist Tense),‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD FROM THE TIME IT WAS SPOKEN, PREPARE THE TIME TODAY, AND CONTINUE TO PREPARE THE TIME UNTIL THE AGE IS CONSUMMATED”,

MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’” (Present Tense)

(I.e., the Present Tense), MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT TODAY!’”

————————————————

Mark 1:2-3, The text transliterated using the VARIOUS TENSES:

Mark 1:2, “just as it is  written in Isaiah the prophet, and does not need to be repeated – it is permanent, until the Consummation of The Age:

BEHOLD FROM THE TIME IT WAS SPOKEN, BEHOLD NOW, AND CONTINUE TO BEHOLD UNTIL THE AGE IS CONSUMMATED”, “I HAVE SENT, AND THIS IS A COMPLETED ACTION, WHICH WILL BE FULFILLED IN THE FUTURE, WHEN THE RIGHT TIME COMES, WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY”,  Verse 3. “THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT TODAY, IN THE WILDERNESS,

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD FROM THE TIME IT WAS SPOKEN, PREPARE THE TIME TODAY, AND CONTINUE TO PREPARE THE TIME UNTIL THE AGE IS CONSUMMATED”,

MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT TODAY!’”

————————————————

This is the message. It is prophetic and very mysterious. There are actions taken at one time which either remain in the present, or are spoken in the present-past but are destined to be fulfilled at a future date, or are spoken in the present-past and will begin at that time and will continue until the consummation of the age!

WHY IS THIS RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT?  This message is written to those of that age and to people of all the ages to come. This is written to you and to me. We are to follow Jesus, and Mark is telling us how, when and where we follow Him. This is not optional for a Christian. It must be done if you are truly His disciple.

INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE TEXT (WITH COMMENTARY).

Mark 1:5 ” And all the country of Judea was going out to him (THIS IS UP TO YOU and ME, TODAY), and all the people of Jerusalem (THIS IS UP TO ALL JEWS, TODAY); and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins (THIS IS WHAT WE DO, WHETHER IN THE JORDAN RIVER, OR WHERE YOU LIVE NOW). 6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and [d]his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was [e]preaching, saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals. 8 I baptized you [f]with water; but He will baptize you [g]with the Holy Spirit.” (JOHN IS GIVING US INSTRUCTIONS. THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL FOR A CHRISTIAN, THAT IS, A DISCIPLE OF JESUS. YOU ARE HEARING WHAT IS TO BE DONE TODAY AND WHAT WILL COME TO YOU NEXT.)

Believe it in your heart by the Spirit of God. Let it seep up into your soul – your mind, will and emotions – and live it out!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Next:  Mark 1:9-12 – The Baptism of Jesus.)

THE WAR OF THE SAINT (CHRISTIAN)

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Pastor David Wilkerson (now deceased) delivered this sermon and prophetic warning 15 years ago, on July 29, 2007.

This is URGENT. Be edified, encouraged and informed.

“Christians all over the world are facing their own private war. These are trials and afflictions comparable to war zones and bloody battlefields. Often, these painful experiences can seem so overwhelming they hinder our ability to communicate the situation with others. These wars can be struggles of finance, battles with lust, or seasons of heaviness where we become so weary of the fight, we want to give up. God wants us to know there is a way to victory, but that he leaves us in the battle to strengthen us. By doing so, we become a benefit to all those around us. If we cry out to God during these times, He will give us the strength to endure and so that His name is magnified, He gives the grace to praise Him.”

(Go here to download this in mp3 or mp4 format)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young