Some say, “SOLA FIDE”! This means “By Faith Alone” a person is forgiven of their sins and “justified” or declared righteous (in right or good standing with God) and will go to heaven.
The doctrine of “Sola Fide” asserts that is salvation based on ones faith in Jesus and His death on the cross that a person is forgiven of their transgressions, rather than on the basis of any good works which the believer might have done. This forgiveness is known as “justification”. In classical Reformed theologies, good works are seen to be evidence of faith, but the good works themselves do not determine salvation.
And, the entire Word or the entire counsel of God tells us that…
SOLA FIDE is a Narrow Gate
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
The Narrow Gate: Narrow, Straight (STENOS)
From: to set or establish (HISTEMI)
to make firm, fix establish
to stand, be kept intact (of family, a kingdom), to escape in safety
to establish a thing, cause it to stand, to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything
to set or place in a balance
to stand immovable, stand firm
continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or prepared
to be of a steadfast mind
of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waiver
SOLA FIDE is the The Eye of a Needle
23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
SOLA FIDE is Childlike faith
15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it atall.”
SOLA FIDE is The Will of God
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
SOLA FIDE is Water and The Spirit
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
SOLA FIDE is The Many Tribulations
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
So, we would do well to adhere to the words of the Apostle Paul in
Philippians2:12 “,,,work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
14 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life,”
We live in difficult and challenging times – this is especially true for Christians. We are being stressed, challenged, persecuted, reviled and tested, all for the Name of Jesus. So, now is not the time to withdraw. It is the time to stand fast, endure so as to overcome!
Let’s stand together, encouraging one another, spurring one another on to love and good works.
“Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. 19 Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20 Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”
That is an odd thing to say to someone who wants to follow you, isn’t it? What does Jesus mean?
A scribe in the Bible, was a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher. Scribes examined the more difficult and subtle questions of the law; added to the Mosaic law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of religion.
Scribes were trained and enrolled in the Sanhedrin political and judicial council headed by the high priest (in his role as civil ruler); in the Talmud it is described as primarily a religious legislative body headed by sages, though with certain political and judicial functions. (notes from the Online Bible edition)
So, Jesus tells this Scribe, this judge and sage, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Foxes retreat to the safety of their lair. They live and remain in their holes, venturing out only to gather food and water, then they scurry back to the safety of the hole. Their focus is on their safety and their hole in the ground.
Same for the birds. They have the nest they build to lay eggs and raise their young. A safe place. They, too, venture out for food, but their focus is on the safety of a nest.
BUILDING HIS CHURCH
Jesus, however, is on mission. He knows that He is the permanent sacrifice for the reconciliation of all people to God. He is doing the work of His Father. Time is short.
He is telling this scribe and His disciples that He has neither the time nor the intention of settling into a “hole in the ground” or building “a nest” into which they can settle down and feel safe.
He has no time for building programs, no time for social programs, no time for endless debate over the ‘cummin and dill’ of the Torah or the endless list of man’s constructs designed to explain and contain the Holy Scriptures. No time for holes in the ground or nests.
Jesus is saying that He is the foundation of His Church, and He is on the move, building His Church. He is the foundation for Temple of the Holy Spirit in the hearts, minds and souls of people.
His Church is Spiritually alive, organic and naturally fluid and on the move; It cannot be contained by a program or an institution. It is powerful, transformative, life changing, world altering and cannot be taught in a school on religion.
If you come to know Jesus, you will know His Church and it is not to be found in a building, a hole in the ground or a nest.
THE CHURCH WAS A MOVEMENT
In AD 1 The Church of Jesus Christ, The Body of Christ, had no buildings, little money and no wealth. The Church was a Movement.
Jesus said to make disciples; collect no money except to make your journey.
However, the penalty for becoming a Christian was often death.
Still, the Church grew exponentially.
THE CHURCH BECAME A PHILOSOPHY
AD 49 The Church expanded into Greece. The Church became a philosophy to many. The Church grew and size and influence.
THE CHURCH BECAME AN INSTITUTION
AD 313 The Church expanded into Rome and it gained recognition. It grew in power and popularity. It obtained wealth, buildings, property and influence. It became an institution.
THE CHURCH BECAME A CULTURE
AD 380 The Church expanded into Europe. It was becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It grew in wealth, stature, power and influence. It had become a culture.
THE CHURCH BECAME A BUSINESS
AD 1607 The Church reaches America.
AD 1681 The Church became corporate. It had became a business and incorporated. It became regulated by the government.
The Corporate Church grew. It needed money to support growth and expansion, which meant the Corporate Church needed more people.
AD 1777 The state of Virginia granted tax exemption to houses of worship.
AD 1894 The corporate church was granted tax exemptions by the Federal Government.
AD 1954 The Federal Government regulated what a church could and could not say in order to retain tax exempt status.
The church continued to grow, and in order to attract more people the Corporate Church lowered its membership and doctrinal standards. More people became ‘members’ and gave more money to support more growth.
The Church corporation is complete with leaders, boards and membership and a business model.
Local churches compete against one another for members (customers). The church is selling itself in “three line slogans”.
The Church members now have choices and have become religious consumers. Church people can shop around for the religious brand and standards that best suits them. (2 Timothy 3)
The Leadership (pastors and preachers) have become CEOs, disciples have become church leaders, growing their 501(c)(3) business models.
Record numbers of pastors quitting because of stress, burnout or are being fired by their congregations (some stats say 1500 – 1700 leave “the ministry” each month).
Church debt in America soars; church foreclosures soar.
AD 1968 The church ordains homosexuals as clergy.
AD 1972 The United church of christ ordains homosexual clergy
AD 2010 The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy
AD 2012 The Presbyterian church ordains homosexual clergy
As the Day of the Lord draws near, part of our preparation is to know for certain that we, ourselves, are in the Ark of our Salvation, safe among the family of God. This includes knowing the difference between
the “Wheat” from the “Tares”,
the “The Good Shepherd” from the “Hireling” and
the “Gleaners” from the “Join-Heirs”.
Jesus said, see to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, and will mislead many.
(A video wrap-up is at the end of of this page)
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
John 10:7 “So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
“HIRELINGS” AND “GLEANERS”
These terms, “hirelings” and “gleaners” are found only a few times in the Bible. These terms can be either good or bad. However, they are just word; adjectives.
Adjectives, however, are words or phrases naming an attribute. Words added to a noun to modify or describe it.
These terms are revealing.
HIRELING
The Old Testament describes a “hireling” simply as a hired laborer, perhaps a mercenary, or someone who hires oneself out to earn wages.
The New Testament, however, contrasts the “hireling” with the Shepherd. See John 10:11-13
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.”
There are those who tend to the sheep for commercial purposes. Their intentions may be good and they offer a good service. But, they, too, are nothing more than “hirelings”.
Jesus says, in John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”
Jesus use of the word “shepherd” is used interchangeably for overseers, pastor, elders, and presbyters.
The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep to defend the sheep from attackers to heal the wounded and sick sheep to find and save lost or trapped sheep to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.
During World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to the base or carrier by flying alongside him to maintain visual contact.
Many “hirelings” like to use the moniker of overseer, pastor, elder, and presbyter. Such titles may bring them status, respect, influence, income or even power over others. But, they are just “hirelings”. Beware, however, because wolves are also lurking under the cover of such names.
Remember, unlike a “hireling”, Jesus tell us He requires we complete His Works as His servant as the cost for being His disciple, among His sheepfold. Besides the benefits, there is a requirement.
Don’t be fooled, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Flee from the “hirelings”.
GLEANERS
Leviticus 19:10 says to the vineyard or landowner, “Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.”
We see that a “gleaner” is someone who picks up, or gathers up or collects. The Bible describes them as the “needy and the stranger” and not part of the family of the landowner.
The book of Ruth tells us of an account of Ruth, a Moabite, the widowed daughter-in-law of the widow Naomi. To prevent starvation, Ruth gleaned the fields of Boaz: “And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.’ Naomi said to her, ‘Go ahead, my daughter,’” (Ruth 2:2).
Ruth was a widow and had no husband to provide for her. She took the initiative and went out into the fields to take care of herself and Naomi. She made this effort as a foreigner among Naomi’s people.
In Chapter 4 of the book of Ruth, we read that Boaz takes Ruth as his wife. She is no longer a “gleaner” but is now part of the family, entitled to all Boaz has. The contrast between being a “gleaner” and a family member is stark.
The Bible says that you and I were once like the “gleaner”, not part of God’s family. Maybe “gleaning” what we could from generosity of others.
There are many people in the church and Christian organizations who are actually little more than “gleaners”. They are not like Ruth. Their mind is set to get what they can get from God and from others, whether it is material goods, money, recognition, status or influence.
GLEANERS ARE NOT GOD’S “CALLED OUT ONES”
You can tell the difference. “Gleaners” focus on themselves and their needs . They have little interest is actually humbling themselves before God or others. They aren’t sure how. They don’t consider “repentance” as an ongoing matter for their own lives, and they tend to pursue the “spiritual gifts” over spiritual disciplines. They usually don’t witness (tell or teach) the Gospel, and are usually unwilling servants.
They can act humble but crave recognition and leadership roles. The tip-off is how they act if they cannot get what they want.
A Believer and Follower of Jesus can also be identified by their behavior. A disciple of Jesus is a son or daughter in the family of God, a brother, sister and friend of Jesus. A joint-heir, entitled to all God has for His own children.
Don’t be a “Hireling”. If you are going to serve God, feed His Sheep.
Be kind to “gleaners”, just don’t be a “gleaner”. If you are going to come near to the House of God, stop being needy and a stranger. Become a child of God and a Joint-Heir with Jesus Christ.
The Day of the Lord is close at hand. Listen for His Voice and follow Him to safety.
(I have set the video to start at the 8:00 minute mark. Listen to at least 11 minutes and 21 seconds – from 8:00 to 18:21, to get the heart of the message)
No one knows who the Antichrist will be, but we do know that when he is revealed he will not be a frightening figure. In fact, he will be just the opposite until he has gained power.
There is a reference in Daniel 11:21 comparing Antiochus Epiphanes to a type of antichrist, who is one of the most brutal rulers known in history, easily eclipsing the horrors of Adolph Hitler and his Third Reich.
But, the horrors of Antiochus Epiphanes will pale in comparison to the brutality and horror of the coming Antichrist.
Traits of the Antichrist Described in the Bible
Intelligent: Revelation 13:18; Daniel 7:8.
Charismatic Speaker: Daniel 7:8 Revelation 13:5.
Crafty Politician: Daniel 9:27; Revelation 17:12, 13, 17.
Distinct Physical Appearance: Daniel 7:20.
Military Genius: Revelation 4; 17:14; 19:19.
Economic Genius: Daniel 11:38.
Blasphemer: Revelation 13:6.
Utterly Lawless: 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
Selfish, Ambitious Egomaniac: Daniel 11:36, 37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4.
Greedy Materialist: Daniel 11:38.
Controlling: Daniel 7:25.
Proud and Self-exalting Above God and Everything: Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians. 2:4.
What is the purpose of the Antichrist?
His purpose is to deceive. The Antichrist is a person prophesied by the Bible to oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christ’s place before the Second Coming.
ANOTHER BEAST – The False Prophet
Revelation 13:11 says, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.
He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.
And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.
And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.
And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.” Revelation 13:11-18.
He will doom anyone who receives his “mark” and worshipshim to suffer God’s Wrath. “So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.” Revelation 16:2
Those which he deceived, those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image, are thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. Revelation 19:20
WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST
No one knows what ‘the mark’ will actually look like. There is speculation that it could be an image (icon) or a microchip or a tattooed type of barcode used in place of money or credit cards for tracking, commerce and trade. But, from scriptures we do know…
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. Revelation 13:11-18
And according to the Bible, the Antichrist gives his ‘Mark’ after the Seal Judgments, after the Rapture, and just after the 6th Tribulation Trumpet Judgment or during the 7th Trumpet Judgment, which is the Mid-Point of the Great Tribulation, which is after three and one half years of the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation period.
We have seen the 5th Tribulation Seal being opened in our lifetime, the great apostasy or falling away from the faith, false messiahs, great deceptions, a.k.a. the ‘deluding influence’ and alienation from one another, and it is become more pronounced as time passes.
The Apostle Paul informs us, in 2 Thessalonians 2
Verse 2. “you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
Verse 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, Verse 4. who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
What this means to you and to me is that some of us will have the opportunity to suffer awhile before God takes us away in the Rapture. How do we know this? The Bible says so:
1 Peter1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
verse 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
verse 5. who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
verse 6. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Revelation 6:9 tells us that, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal,
I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; verse 10. and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
Verse 11. And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
The Great Tribulation also known as The Wrath of God, that is the Wrath of the Lamb, begins with the breaking or opening of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation.
NOTE: The final 7 years of Daniel’s 70 Weeks, also known as the 7 Years of the Great Tribulation will begin with the Breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal. It will reach the mid-point (3 1/2 years) at the Blowing of the 7th Trumpet Judgment and will conclude with the pouring out of the 7th Bowl Judgment.
Be comforted by this, that God has not appointed us to His Wrath but to obtain His salvation!
Peace in the Middle East? Could world peace start with a peace agreement in the Middle East? There are some who think that if this area can find a solution, there may be real hope for the rest of the world.
Any prospect for a Peace Treaty for the Middle East garners great worldwide attention, as has the recent announcement of a Middle East peace initiative by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
“My vision presents a win-win situation for both sides,” Trump said. “Today, Israel has taken a giant step toward peace.” President Donald Trump, January 2020
“White House officials described President Trump’s Middle East peace plan as realistic and said Israel is prepared to act. According to White House officials, the plan calls for a two-state solution, including the state of Israel and the “future” State of Palestine. Under the plan, the Palestinians would have to reach certain benchmarks to achieve a state. Those benchmarks include rooting out terrorism, stopping what they call “pay to slay,” implementing steps toward free speech, and other political reforms.
“The plan is a basis for negotiations with Israel, Trump officials said, claiming many of the Palestinians’ red lines are met, including their calls for a Palestinian state and a capital in parts of East Jerusalem.
“The vision calls for more than doubling the amount of territory the Palestinians control.
“This plan will double Palestinian territory and set the capital of the Palestinian state in eastern Jerusalem, where the United States will happily open an embassy,” Trump said. “Our vision will end the cycle of Palestinian dependence on charity and foreign aid.”
“The plan also includes a map of a contiguous Palestinian state in the West Bank, with a proposed tunnel to connect the West Bank and Gaza Strip. There would also be land swaps south of Gaza to give the Palestinians more territory.
“This is the first time Israel has agreed to a Palestinian state with defined borders.
“A small strip of land between the Egyptian border and the proposed land swap areas south of Gaza would remain Israeli territory and be subject to Israeli security control. This was requested by Egypt as a buffer against cross-border terrorism.
“As part of the plan, Israel has agreed to halt settlement construction for four years. But in one detail sure to provoke Palestinian objections, the plan recognizes Israeli sovereignty over major settlement blocs in the West Bank.
“The plan calls for a demilitarized Palestinian state. Israel would maintain overall security, though it does create programs for the Palestinians to show the capability to secure their areas, including a local police force. The more the Palestinians show they can secure their areas and cooperate with Israel, the less Israel will have to do in terms of maintaining security, officials said.
“Israel would maintain sovereignty of the Jordan Valley east of the West Bank, according to the proposal. Israel would also maintain the security of the area.
“There is a plan that over time, Palestinians would be able to achieve some civil sovereignty in the Jordan Valley, like farming, officials said.” Excerpts from a Fox News article, January 29, 2020
BUT, WILL THERE BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST?
Searching for a peace plane for the Middle East is nothing new. The Messianic Prophecy Bible Project website, explains how this has been an ongoing idea for centuries.
“It is vital to understand what the Prophet Daniel and Jesus told us about a peace plan for Israel and the Middle East and the last days, so we can recognize the times and warn others also.
A Middle East peace plan will begin the final countdown to the return of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).
“The ninth chapter of the Book of Daniel, tells us that Daniel, who was in exile in Babylon with the Jewish People, was studying the Book of Jeremiah looking for answers.
“As he read, he understood that Jeremiah foretold a 70-year period of Babylonian captivity before the restoration of Israel would come to pass (Jeremiah 29:10).
“Daniel’s heartfelt, moving response was to pray, confessing his sin and the sin of the entire nation of Israel.
“As he prayed, the angel Gabriel came to him, telling him of an additional time period, this time of shevuim shevim (seventy sevens) or 490 years. This was the time that would elapse before sin would end and everlasting righteousness would be established:
“Seventy [shevim] ‘sevens’ [shevuim] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.” (Daniel 9:24)
End-Time Prophecy: What Are the “Seventy Sevens”?
“Shevuim (sevens) is similar to the concept of a decade (10 years), but refers to a seven-year period.
“Seventy sevens (70 X 7), therefore, represents a period of 490 years before the prophecy would be fulfilled.
“Of these 490 years, 483 have been fulfilled with remarkable precision; they represent the time between the decree by the Persian king Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1–8) and the cutting off of Yeshua HaMashiach:
“From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven [sheva] ‘sevens’ [Shevuim] and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One [Mashiach / Messiah] will be put to death and will have nothing. (Daniel 9:25–26)
“From Artaxerxes’ decree (Ezra 7:13–28) to Yeshua’s death on the Roman execution cross, was 483 years.
This leaves a seven-year span that has yet to be completed
and will be fulfilled
in the “Last Days” during the Tribulation Period.
“Daniel describes that time in Daniel 9:27: “He [the ruler at that time] will confirm a covenant [peace treaty] with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation.”
“When Jesus was asked about His coming and the end of the age (Matthew 24:3–15), He referred to the above verse. Jesus’ end-time explanation, confirms that there will be a third Jewish Temple in the last days and a seven-year peace covenant, which likely will be brought about by the anti-Christ.
“Just as the Hebrew Prophet Daniel searched the Scriptures for clues to understand the time in which he lived, we also should be diligently searching the Scriptures.
“Indeed, when we examine current events in the light of Bible prophecy, there can be no doubt that we are living at the end of the age.
“The necessity remains to scrutinize world happenings so we may be prepared for whatever is coming, especially since recent attempts at peace in the Middle East may be a precursor for the fulfillment of Daniel’s final seven-year period.
“This peace covenant will begin the 70th week in Daniel’s prophecy, the final seven-year stretch before the return of Jesus.
“Daniel also highlights the halfway point in the seven-year covenant, this leader will set up an abomination in the Temple, perhaps an image of himself to be worshiped. (The Book of Revelation also mentions a three and a half year period in Revelation 11:2–3; 12:6; and 13:5).” END OF EXCERPT
As I have said before and have written in numerous articles, we are now, undoubtedly, seeing the breaking of the 5th Seal of the tribulation period. https://www.whitestone2014.com/is-this-the-end
As stated in the Messianic Prophecy Bible Project article, This peace covenant will begin the 70th week in Daniel’s prophecy, the final seven-year stretch before the return of Jesus.
Additionally 2 Thessalonians 2:1tells us, “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 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.”
The Day of the Lord will not come unless
The apostasy comes first, and
The man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.”
The final seven-years of Daniel’s 70th week, also known as the period of the Great Tribulation begins with this peace covenant and will quickly be followed by the breaking of the 6th Seal, and thus, the beginning of the GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD.
The Bible tells us – Jesus tells us – no man know the day or the hour, but, we can know the season.
THE TIME TO PREPARE IS NOW
The Day of the Lord will come upon us like a thief in the night, and will overtake all who are not prepared.
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(You can listen to this audio as you read along, and, you can pause the audio to follow links, then resume audio when you are ready.)
QUESTION & ANSWERS ABOUT “DANIEL’S 70TH WEEK”
1. When did Daniel have his vision about the End of Days?
660 BC
2. What is Daniel’s Seventy Weeks?
The prophecy contains a statement concerning God’s six-fold purpose in bringing these events to pass. Verse 24 says this purpose is
1) “to finish transgression,”
2) “to put an end to sin,”
3) “to atone for wickedness,”
4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,”
5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and
6) “to anoint the most holy.”
Notice that these results concern the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness. The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before the End of the Age, and when Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom. (From Gotquestions.org, seventy weeks)
3. When did the 70 Weeks (490 years) begin?
Gabriel said the prophetic clock would start at the time that a decree was issued to rebuild Jerusalem. From the date of that decree, 445 BC, to the time of the Messiah (30 AD) would be 483 years. We know from history that the command to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” was given by King Artaxerxes of Persia c. 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8).
The first unit of 49 years (seven “sevens”) covers the time that it took to rebuild Jerusalem, “with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble” (see Daniel 9:25). This rebuilding is chronicled in the book of Nehemiah.
Using the Jewish custom of a 360-day year, 483 years after 445 B.C. places us at A.D. 30, which would coincide with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see Matthew 21:1-9). The prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies that after the completion of the 483 years, “the Anointed One will be cut off” (verse 26). This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified.
Daniel 9:26 continues with a prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The “ruler who will come” is a reference to the Antichrist, who, it seems, will have some connection with Rome, since it was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem. (From Gotquestions.org, seventy weeks)
4. When does the final week, the 70th Week of Daniel, begin?
Read again, in Daniel 9:26, the prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
This issue has been hotly debated for centuries. Scriptures have been clear. A simple face-value reading of scriptures leads to the conclusion that the final 7 Weeks, the ‘BIRTH PAINS’ also known as a period of tribulation (not to be confused with the Great Tribulation Period or the “Wrath of the Lamb”), will END with the breaking of the breaking of the 6th Seal of Tribulation.
After that, Mid-Point of the Great Tribulation, (after 3 1/2 years) begins with the blowing of the 7th Tribulation Trumpet and will conclude after the pouring out of the 7th Tribulation Bowl Judgment.
5. What will happen to the people on earth?
All of those who, by faith, have repented of their sins, and who have confessed Jesus as savior and followed Him in obedience, will be saved. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Verse 17. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
6. Is there anything I need to do to get ready for these events?
Yes. Romans10:9, says, “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.”
Matthew24:42 also tells us, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. Verse 43. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Verse 44. “For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
Verse 45. “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Verse 46. “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.”
I have received some feedback on my recent Word Press and Website posts and a recent video testimony I made. Most of this feedback is encouraging and in agreement. Some of this feedback, however, has suggested I may be too focused on the End Times and that perhaps I am fearful of what is going on in our world.
Please, friends, let me be clear:
1. I am not afraid of what is going on in our Country or around the world. I am confident. I am trying to awaken my friends to realities we face and The Remedy for all that is going on in our world.
2. I do not feel I am unnecessarily focused on the “End Times”. The subject matter on my Postings and Articles covers a wide array of subjects, but, Eschatology is at the heart of my Web and Blog sites, and it has been that way for over 10 years now. I BELIEVE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS AND I BELIEVE WHAT I AM SAYING.
3. Chaos is gripping our Nation and the nations of the world” creating a climate of fear and uncertainty for political reasons and it is being in a well organized effort by powerful people on the political Left, the media and other world governments. Here are just a few of the False Flags:
Panic from a ‘pandemic’ is sweeping the globe and even the best medical minds do not agree on the level of severity or about the necessary steps needed to combat it or if the extreme steps we are taking are even necessary, UNDER THE FALSE FRONT, THE GUISE OF CERTAIN DEATH IF THIS ISN’T CONTAINED when actually it is a method to weaken our unity as a nation and to impose restrictions leading to an overthrow of our citizenry.
Riots by self proclaimed Marxists (BLM, Antifa) are erupting across our nations. A deliberate attempt to overthrow our government and our way of life UNDER THE FALSE FRONT, THE GUISE OF PROTESTS ABOUT RACISM when actually it is a power grab by Socialists and Communists.
The political climate in America has divided our citizens and families and has created whispers of a civil war UNDER THE FALSE FRONT, THE GUISE OF FREEDOM FROM GOVERNMENT when it is actually a political grab at authoritarianism.
Guns sales are breaking all records because of the fear being propagated by the media and the LEFTISTS in America. People are arming themselves because law and order are breaking down. This invites authoritarianism and an excuse for violence.
The POLITICAL LEFT in America has declared open war on our constitution, our churches, our systems of government, our legal systems and our law enforcement establishments, our legacies and our history UNDER THE FALSE FRONT, THE GUISE OF combating racism, sexual identity and preference, freedom from longstanding standards of morality.
What, for the last 200+ years has been the standard of decency and morality, has been turned upside down by the LEFT in America and we are, as a nation, are awash in debauchery and perversion and it has been codified into law.
4. The Bible describes a coming series of events, each of which when considered alone means little, but when considering that all the events would come to bear at the same time in a confluence or concurrence, should at least raise a few questions if not sounding an alarm.
These type events are also described in the Bible, among other places, specifically in Matthew chapter 24 and Revelation chapters 6 and 7. These verses describe a world in chaos and God’s coming judgment on the world.
5. I want to say that God has not given me a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and a sound mind. Therefore, I am not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. In fact. I am asking that you join with me in spreading the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity!
I need my friends and neighbors in my life. I am concerned as you are about our Country and our welfare. But, thinking things will soon be ‘back to normal’ will not prepare us for what is upon us and for what is coming.
Our hope is in God and in His Son. Know and doing what God has put in place is our escape and our remedy.
We can engage, overcome and defeat these troubles at the source by taking a resolute stand to heartfelt prayer, with the teachings of the Bible as our standard and following Jesus by His example in all we think and do.
The first evidence that God has a plan for the course of cosmic history, referring to humans, planet earth and ultimately, the entire cosmos, is found in the Bible in the Book of Genesis.
The first evidence of the timing and sequence of events for the destruction and recreation of the earth is found in the Bible in the Book of Daniel. There are other prophecies and clues, but, this is the clearest.
The first and clearest record of details of the coming Tribulation or End of Days is found in the Bible in the book of Matthew and the Book of The Revelation, although important and relevant clues are also found in the Books of Matthew, Acts and Hebrews.
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW?
Beware: Denominationalism has clouded the issues of
Creation, sin and the fall of man,
The judgment of wickedness and the destruction of humankind and the cleansing of the earth,
the prophesied Messiah and His arrival and redemptive work,
the Last Days, the tribulation and
the Great Tribulation,
the End of the Age and destruction of the planet and the cosmos,
the creation of new heavens and a new earth,
Considering that there are over there are over 200 different known denominations in America and over 33,000 denominations worldwide, you will find widely differing opinions, arguments and even some hostilities between denominations on the matters of the Bible, especially concerning the End Times.
So, to clear some denominational clutter, let’s take the Bible at face value where applicable.
I want us to focus on God’s “eschatological clock”, and discuss ‘Where we are now”, then ‘How we got here’, ‘What is coming next’, and what we are to do:
I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and
because of the testimony which they had maintained;
and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
Verse 11. And there was given to each of them a white robe; and
they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
NOTE:The description in Matthew is “AN EARTHLY PERSPECTIVE” and the description in The Revelation is “A HEAVENLY or SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE”.
This tells us that the Tribulation and death is not our end. When our earthly life ends our heavenly life begins. We live on. God’s plan is eternal and so are we who belong to Him.
We are part of God’s plan. We are active players, and our enduring participation assures our place with Him in the Kingdom of God.
2. HOW WE GOT HERE
I will only go back to the time of Jesus at this point. (Later, in a follow-up article, I will go back to the Book of Genesis.)
The period of the breaking or opening of the first FIVE Tribulation Seals, which began between AD 1 and AD 69 is also referred to as THE BEGINNING OFSORROWSor theLAST DAYS.
This period became evident in or around A.D. 1
(1) Jesus calls this period the LAST DAYS or the END OF THE AGE inMatthew 24:3-8
(2) The Apostle Peter calls 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
(4) The Apostle Matthew records the advent of John the Baptist and through this reminds us THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS and illustrates this in Matthew 3:1-12
(5) The Apostle Peter again reminds us THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS in 2 Peter
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:
(1) The Beginning of Sorrows, Birth Pangs, The End of The Age or the Last Days
(2) The Tribulation also known as The End of Days
(3) The GREAT Tribulation also known as the ‘Wrath of God’ or the ‘Wrath of the Lamb’.
When people read the Bible about eschatology, that is the matters about the End Times and the Tribulation period (the books of Matthew chapter 24 and the book of The Revelation), most tend to read it as one would read a ‘story’ or a novel. Most assume it is written in chronological order, a sequence of events, one event beginning as the previous event is ending. THIS IS NOT CORRECT.
When a Tribulation Seal is broken, an event or a series of events occur and will last for certain periods of time. Most events will continue until the “Consummation of the Age”.
In other words, once a Tribulation event begins, it may continue for days, weeks, months, years or decades. Then, as a second or third event occurs, events may overlap and occur simultaneously.
We see that the first 5 Seals have been opened are overlapping and are in progress. This began around AD 1. Here is the progression of the breaking of Tribulation Seals until the current time:
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 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
NOTE: The breaking of the 6th Tribulation Scroll Seal will be the start of the seven years of the GREAT TRIBULATION, also known as The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, or The Wrath of the Lamb and as Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
We are now standing at the precipice of a cosmic cataclysm which will shake and reshape the planet, disrupt the stars in heaven and cause many to die from cosmic, meteorological, geological disturbances and from fright. This event is known as Daniel’s Seventieth Week, which begins with the breaking (or opening) of the 6th Scroll Seal of the Tribulation.
THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING THE EXACT DAY NOR THE HOUR this will occur, but we know the season, and we are told that we must be ready according to scriptures or perish!
Our response will reveal our position in Christ, or in other words, whether you and I are truly saved.
We are part of God’s plan. We are active players, and our enduring participation assures our place with Him in the Kingdom of God.
Tribulation and death is not our end. When our earthly life ends our heavenly life begins. We live on. God’s plan is eternal and so are we who belong to Him.
If we are obedient, do what He has said and endure to the end, we will rule with Him. (2 Timothy 2:12)
1. Die to self. Surrender your life and purpose to Christ Jesus.
2. Follow Him in complete obedience.
3. 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 you.
4. Do what He says and you will overcome.
5. Endure to the end and you will be saved.
Dearly Beloved:
If you attend church regularly, pray, do good deeds, tithe your income, live a good life, are a good person, there is no assurance you are saved or will spend eternity in heaven.
The Word of God says we are saved by God’s Grace through faith in Jesus and what He has done for us. It is not of anything we have done ourselves.
However, Jesus also says that we are to do what He has commanded, or we are not His disciples.
I am watching a movie on TV. The name of it isn’t important. It is a satire or a parody of the war in Afghanistan and, then president Obama, and his deliberate mockery of America’s military, his misuse of our national resources, his disrespect and demoralization of our military and its leadership. Again, it was a parody of real events and real people.
In one scene, the commander of the forces in Afghanistan, an army general, is giving a ‘pep talk’ to a company of marines on the front lines. This general has been instructed by the white house representatives that the military is there to clean up the mess Obama has made, wind the war down, under the guise of “nation building” and to install a democratic style of government.
During his speech, the general says that “we cannot help these people if we are killing them. It ain’t humanly possible.” And, he says, “they cannot trust us if we keep killing them. So, we need to stop killing them so we can help them.”
He noticed this group of marines were not responding with the enthusiasm as he had hoped for, so he solicits remarks from them. One marine responded with something like, “this is all bull, sir!”
The general look surprised and growled, “What do you mean by that, marine!?”
The marine said, “You are telling us we are here to help these people?”
The general says, “That is right, marine.”
“And we are not supposed to kill any of them?”
“You’re getting it, marine.”
“But, I am a marine sir. I am in a war. I kill people, sir”, the marine continued.
The general responded with, “Not any more, marine.”
“No respect sir, but, you are telling me that I am supposed to, somehow, convince these people that, deep down, I am really a nice guy? How am I supposed to do that when one out of every three or ten people here are trying to kill me? How am I supposed to not kill them when they are trying to kill me, sir? I am a marine and I am trained to fight a war and defend myself. I just don’t understand how that is supposed to work, sir. I am confused ,sir!”, the marine pleaded.
“Then you are just going to have to get yourself unconfused, son”, the general replies.
THEN IT STRUCK ME
We are not to kill them either. We are supposed to help them and build the Kingdom, even when they are trying to kill us!
Listen to the Apostle Paul as he wages his earthly war for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
2 Corinthians 11:23
(I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.
27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Although I am a Christian, and, reflecting back on the movie, I am compelled to say, “No respect sir, but, you are telling me that I am supposed to, somehow, convince these people that, deep down, I am really a nice guy? That we are here to build their country and help them become prosperous? How am I supposed to do that when one out of every three or ten people here are trying to kill me? How am I supposed to not kill them when they are trying to kill me, sir? I am a marine and I am trained to fight a war and defend myself. I just don’t understand how that is supposed to work, sir. I am confused ,sir!”
To which the marine is told “Then you are just going to have to get yourself un-confused, son.”
The Apostle Peter explains in 1 Peter 2:24
“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
And, again, the Apostle Paul says, in Colossians 4:5
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
I have to ask, “How am I supposed to do that, sir, when they are defying our laws, burning our cities down, destroying our businesses, killing our people, attacking our way of life? How am I supposed to do that when one out of three or five or ten of them want to kill me? I am confused sir!”
To which the Apostles Peter and Paul and our Lord Jesus seem to be saying, “Then you are just going to have to get yourself un-confused, son!”
I am thinking that if we stay busy doing what Jesus called us to be doing, we will have our attention diverted away from the temporal to the things that really matter.
Our war is not a war of flesh and blood and our weapons are not weapons of this world. But our
“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, we are to take up the full armor of God, so that we will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
We are, therefore, to be on the alert, for we do not know which day The Lord is coming.
But we can be sure of this, that if we had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, we would be on the alert and we will allow our households to be broken into.
This is the reason we must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when we do not think He will.
So then, who is the faithful and sensible follower of Jesus, whom Jesus has put in charge of His household to give them their “food” at the proper time?
Blessed is that disciple, that Christian, whom Jesus finds so doing when He comes.
Nothing else really matters. So, we must just get un-confused and get on with His Business!
Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to, “Go and sin no more”.
Is that even possible?
This question reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s lament, (heavily paraphrased here) from Romans 7:14-24
I know that the spiritual laws are spiritual in nature; but I am unspiritual. I am like a slave who has been sold to an owner by the name of “Sin”.
Even though I know I am a slave to “Sin”, I still don’t understand why I act like I do. I want to do good, I do not do good, but instead I am doing sinful things I hate.
I realize that it is not the “real me” acting this way, and that it is actually my owner, “Sin”, acting this way. But, it is “Sin” who is living within me.
I know that good does not dwell within me. What is within me is a sinful nature.
I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
You see, I am not doing good even though I want to do good. I keep on doing evil, and I do not want to do evil. So, when I do the things I do not want to do, I realize that it is “Sin” living in me who is doing these evil things through me.
So, I find this principal at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right here, within me, causing all this trouble.
I delight in God’s law in my innermost being; but I see this principal at work within me, waging war with my mind and making me a prisoner of sin.
Sin is working within me, waging war against my desire to do good. I am wretched and tormented! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE?
If this is true with Paul, I have to ask, “Is it even possible to, sin no more as Jesus said?”
We have already discussed how continual sin interrupts our walk with God and robs us of ability to complete our God Given mission and calling effectively – and even negates our ability to submit to God and see Him work through us.
Well, the Bible says it is possible to “Sin no more”, and I need to know how. Let’s solve this awful mystery:
1 John 1:8 tells us that “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” and, v10 says “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
But, 1 John 1:9 tells us that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.“
The Apostle Paul says to us in Romans 6:1 “Well then, shall we keep on sinning so that God can keep on showing us more and more kindness and forgiveness?
2-3 Of course not! Should we keep on sinning when we don’t have to? For sin’s power over us was broken when we became Christians and were baptized to become a part of Jesus Christ; through his death the power of your sinful nature was shattered. 4 Your old sin-loving nature was buried with him by baptism when he died; and when God the Father, with glorious power, brought him back to life again, you were given his wonderful new life to enjoy.
5 For you have become a part of him, and so you died with him, so to speak, when he died;[a] and now you share his new life and shall rise as he did. 6 Your old evil desires were nailed to the cross with him; that part of you that loves to sin was crushed and fatally wounded, so that your sin-loving body is no longer under sin’s control, no longer needs to be a slave to sin; “
If this is so, why do I still have the urges to sin?
IT TAKES TIME
Look at it this way. Suppose your doctor says that you need to lose weight or you will suffer deteriorating health, eventually even death. And, let’s say he tells you that you need to lose thirty pounds to be healthy. The doctor will give you guidance, encouragement, assistance, and the hope of the promise of good health.
(The weight is SIN. The doctor is JESUS. The diet is your SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE. The loss of 30 pounds is your desire or GOAL of being weight (sin) free)
So, you begin.
After one month you have lost 5 pounds. Are you healthy yet? NO you are not. But, you are HEALTHIER. And, you are moving toward your goal.
After three months you have lost 15 pounds. Are you healthy yet? NO you are not. But, you are even HEALTHIER. And, you are moving closer to your goal.
After four month you have gained 5 pounds back. You have slipped. Are you healthy yet? NO you are not. But, you are still HEALTHIER than when you started. You need to admit your fault, and get moving toward your goal again.
After ten months you have lost 30 pounds! Are you healthy yet? YES you are. But, you know that this will now be a lifetime of weight (sin) management.
There may be times you ‘slip back’. You must call your doctor. You know he will not condemn you or criticize you. He is there to help you.
So, you call your doctor and admit your faults, knowing that it is your work to do, but your doctor is committed and able to get help you get cleaned up and back on the road of good health!
If you will stay with it and don’t look back at the pleasures of poor eating habits, you will make it! One day you will realize you are much healthier and much more satisfied.
So it is with our walk with God. Like the old hymn says, if we stay with Him and continue or walk with Him, one day we will realize that “Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before”!
We will look around and see what God has done and is doing in and through our lives and say, “Yes, indeed, our God is a mighty God!” Praise to our God.
STAY WITH IT AND STAY WITH HIM!
THIS WILL HAPPEN. THESE THINGS ARE WORKING TOGETHER FOR YOUR GOOD!
Until then, GO AND SIN NO MORE, remembering that He Who is in you has overcome the world!
It seems to me that most everyone who claims to be a Christian (and I say most everyone to leave me some wiggle room) falls far short of what Jesus modeled.
And most of us seem to fall far short of what He said we should be able to do in His Name.
In this day and age and with our world spinning wildly out of control, this could be the most important thing you could read and do.
NOT AND EXCUSE
I hear all the excuses we make. But, no one is willing to explain what seem to be the obvious.
I know the Bible says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”(Romans 8:23), but, this is not meant to be an excuse for our failure to see His works in our lives. It is a word of correction and instruction, not to be used an excuse.
Despite the fact that we all have sinned and fall short, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father” John 14:12
(And by the way, “greater” (mega) in this case does not mean just ‘greater in number’ but it means greater in value, in size, in compass, in stature, in scale, in strength, etc.)
Here is an example. (Matthew 28:16) “… the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
SOME WERE DOUBTFUL, even after all the had seen and experience with the living Lord Jesus. They were doubtful! BUT JESUS SENT THEM TO DO HIS WORKS, ANYWAY.
Their doubt was not to be used an excuse and falling short of the glory of God is not to be used as an excuse, either.
We are to GO “and be confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
I do not intend to take these verses out of context (Eisegesis) in order to make a point, however, these two verses are not contradictory, they are complimentary.
Verse thirteen of John chapter 14, then gives us the “How” this is possible: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Jesus does the works, through the believer and submitted follower.
In other words, this is saying that the person who believes in Jesus, and is yielded to Him will experience the works of Jesus in and through their life – and even greater works because Jesus is now at the right Hand of the Father, and it is He who will do those works through His yielded disciples.
So, what if the Bible is not so much about “what we can or should do” as it is about what to avoid – and that is sin!
The obstacle that negates or defeats our purpose in Christ
Sin, it would appear, is the obstacle that negates or defeats our purpose in Christ. So I ask you, are His works blatantly missing in your life?
The Bible does say that sin separates us from God. And, that if we regard iniquity in our hearts that God cannot hear our prayers.
What if, to speak in similes, we, as jars of clay, are so full of rubbish, that the works of God cannot enter in order to pass through us? Or, perhaps our spiritual communication with God is interrupted and unintelligible because of the ‘static of sin’ in our lives?
In order to further this point, I am curious why most of the people are going to the altars in our church just to ask for things, Good things perhaps, like healings, family needs, financial needs, etc., but it seems that very, very few, go to the altar to mourn, confess and repent of their sins.
Could this be the problem of spiritual impotence, which we are not addressing?
I have even heard a senior pastor teach, many times regarding sin, “God loves you so much, that He cannot love you any less. He understands your frailty and overlooks your sins thanks to Jesus.” I have to say in response, “Are you kidding me?”
For many people, admitting they are sinful is a tough thing. They feel they are admitting that they are just bad people, when they don’t believe they are essentially bad. They say, “I may do some bad things occasionally, but I am basically a good person.”
In dealing with sin and a woman caught in adultery, Jesus said to her (and to all of us by extension) “Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” John 8:10-11
God is merciful and forgiving, but, the command is to “Go, and sin no more”. Sin obstructs our connection to God.
Paul also weighed in on this matter when he taught, “Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” 1 Corinthians 15:34
Being good or bad isn’t the point. Sin, is the point.
Sin causes us to “miss the mark” of God’s provision.
Sin causes us to “miss the mark” of God’s presence.
Sin causes us to “miss the mark” of God’s works in and through our mortal bodies.
So. Do you want to change your walk with God into a “Power Walk”? Do you want to see the Works of God in and through your life?
Let’s all Clean our jar of clay. Let’s all clear our spiritual airwaves of the ‘static of sin’.
Please hear these thoughts about prayer, from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest,
“A child of God never prays to be made aware of the fact that God answers prayer, because he is so restfully certain that God always answers prayer.” August 21, 2018,
”We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.” August 14, 2014
“To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying, “Prayer changes me and then I change things.” August 14, 2014
I have heard it taught, by most Bible teachers in the reformed evangelical church, almost as a doctrine, that God answers prayers 3 ways:
“Yes”
“No”
“Later”
I wondered. So, I studied and searched – for many months. I found this:
God answers prayers.
Period.
For those who would say that God says ‘wait’, actually, there is no direct Biblical reference or evidence of God making you wait. Some may point to Sarah and Abraham and say that God made Sarah wait. But the time that elapsed from God’s Promise to the time it was fulfilled, shows only that God delivers on His Promises.
Time is relevant only to our frames of reference. For God, time is eternal. God Answers Prayer! Period!
The same goes for “no” answer.
I like to study the Bible, so I can know what the Bible says and so I can obey and apply the Truths and principles of the Bible to my life. However, I consider myself a simple minded person, so too many conflicting ideas about anything tends to confuse me to inaction. So, I have to keep this simple.
Here are 7 things the Bible says about praying. And these verses will answer all the ‘objections’ to
GOD ANSWERS PRAYER.
PERIOD.
1. God says we are to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6
2. God says, ” You do not have because you do not ask. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (and the word “pleasures” means lusts or selfish pleasures. It is the Greek word is ‘hedone’ from which we get our English word ‘hedonism’ which is unaccountable pleasure and usually not virtuous).
3. God says, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, God will not hear (my prayers).” Psalms 66:18
4. God says, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”
5. God says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”
6. God says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide 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.” John 15:7
7. God says, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:21-22
Could this be any clearer?
I have listed SEVEN TRUTHS about prayer. I could take these 7 Truths about prayer and turn the into seven chapters for a book. I don’t think I will try to write a book about this because when I read books with many caveats and multilayered methods to pray it’s almost like learning to hit a golf ball the first time. (Head down, eye on the ball, left arm straight, wrist locked, elbow in tight, shift your weight, strike the ball first then the turf, turn your belt buckle toward the target, rotate shoulders, extend your arms for follow through – then pick your self up off the ground because you missed the ball completely and fell over. In fact, you have missed the point completely, lost in the details, so, you quit.)
For the person reading this who would like to see their prayer life manifest God Sized results, then please, let’s re-read these Truths and begin to apply them, together.
1.God says we are to
Be anxious for nothing,
but in every situation, by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.”Philippians 4:6
What would it look like to pray without anxiety, in every situation? (Think on this!)
How do you pray and ask with THANKSGIVING? (Think on this!)
Take the time and self discipline to cleanse ourselves. Remembering that we are approaching a Holy God through Christ Jesus. Galatians 5:19-21 gives a good place to start: “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 John 1:9ff tells us to confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
4. God says we are to
Have confidence in Him, so that, anything we ask according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask,
we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”
Consider carefully the word ABIDE. This is the only way.
7. God says we are to “…
7. God says, we are to “have faith and do not doubt,
“you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Then, and only then, we may ask whatever we wish, and it will be done for you.
We must remember that these 7 Truths of prayers are not ‘individual Truths’. These 7 Truths are connected to one another; they are interrelated. Each must be observed as each is dependent upon the others.
And the motives or our prayers must be that Our Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and prove to be My disciples.
And this is the power of the Gospel: The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
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; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
WOW, huh?
One last story: We were attending a new members class at a Church we were considering joining. The pastor of this church was teaching this class. This particular module of the class was about prayer and spiritual gifts. At the conclusion of this class the pastor emphatically (and sarcastically) said, “So, if you have the gift of prayer that raises people from the dead or heals people, you don’t need to join our church. You should just go to the local hospital and empty it out!”
We moved on in search of another church. Friends, I am not a Christian because of what I can get or what I can do.
I am a Christian because I am a sinner and I need a Savior. I need forgiveness of my sins and because I love and need Jesus. After this, I discovered there is much more to this Christian life and the walk with God than I could have ever imagined. Let’s do it all!!
First, it means that, over the last 2,000 plus years, the first five seals of the tribulation have been broken. This is referred to as the TIMES OF SORROWS or the BIRTH PAINS.
There are clear signs and evidence that the fifth tribulation seal is now in the process of being opened, or broken!
Secondly, it means that, according to the signs given in scriptures, that the Great Tribulation begins with the breaking or opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal. Which, incidentally, marks the beginning of Daniel’s Seventieth Week, a.k.a., the “7 Year Tribulation period” and the “Time, Times and a Half Time” (three and one half years).
It is importantbecause, if you, as a Christian, think that you will be raptured off this planet and into heaven before the End of Days and before the “BIRTH PAINS” of the early tribulation period begins, you are holding on to a false hope.
You are now experiencing the breaking first five tribulation seals known as the “BIRTH PAINS”, and Jesus clearly says that you must “endure to the end” in the face of these disasters, calamities, famines, earthquakes and wars.
I believe our theologians, once again, have miscalculated the timing and urgency of this prophecy based on denominational bias and have left us pre-tribulation adherents vulnerable.
It is important because, Jesus is very clear about what we are to be doing in preparation for these horrendous events. And, very few are even aware of this assignment and fewer yet are doing them.
It is important because the context with which we see the uses and meanings of these words and the timing of these events affect our attitudes and our motivation for GETTING and STAYING READY for His return.
It is important that we see and understand what Jesus is TEACHING corresponds with the unfolding of the Tribulation period as recorded in Revelation. It will give us clear instruction, not only of what is coming, but HOW TO PREPARE for these days.
WHY DOES IT MATTER
Why does it matter “when” the tribulation starts or “when” Christians are to be raptured into the heavens?
It matters because being ready for His Return is proof of True Christianity, and only a True Believer in Christ will be guaranteed to join Christ at the sound of His Great Trumpet call and escape the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.
It matters because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return
It matters because He has warned that “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; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
It matters because many Christians are sitting idly waiting for an event that has already begun, and they are not DOING what He told them to do and therefore are in grave danger
It matters because some of our family, friends and neighbors are completely unaware or just don’t believe that Christ will return and God’s final judgments will sentence them to outer darkness, and it is our job and calling, as Christians, to tell them. It is our responsibility to “sound the Shofar“.
The Bible warns that in THESE LAST DAYS, “lawlessness is increased”. Never, in our history, have we seen such a striking call for the abolition of “Law and Order”, the permissiveness of anarchy and lawlessness. We are, indeed, in a time when “Good is called evil and evil is called good”.
Please hear these thoughts about prayer, from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest,
EARTH SHAKING NEWS