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THESE LAST DAYS? – Part 3

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THEN THE END WILL COME

Matthew 24:14  “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Verse 15.  “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

Verse 16.  “Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

Verse 17.  “Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.

Verse 18.  “Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.

Verse 19,  “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

Verse 20.  “But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.

FOR THEN, A GREAT TRIBULATION

Verse 21.  “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

Verse 22  “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

Verse 23.  “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.

Verse 24.  “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

Verse 25.  “Behold, I have told you in advance.

Verse 26.  “So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them.

Verse 27.  “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

THESE LAST DAYS

Hebrews 1:1-2, says, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,  in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”

THE LAST DAYS

Acts 2:17  ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;

THESE LAST TIMES

1 Peter 1:18  “…knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, (v19) but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (v20)  For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you (v21)  who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

These words by Jesus, the Apostles Paul and Peter were spoken (and written) in the 1st century, AD.  So, it is easy to see, by these scriptural references, that The Last Days began in the 1st Century AD – and this is earth-shaking news.

Go here for EARTH-SHAKING NEWS – Part 4

THESE LAST DAYS? – Part 2

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

IT IS TO KNOW

 

“THE LAST DAYS“ – Take a close look at these words of Jesus and the Apostles Paul and Peter as they spoke of THE LAST DAYS or the LAST TIMES.

The words, when referring to THE LAST DAYS, THE LAST TIMES, THE END, which were spoken by Jesus, Paul and Peter, in the Greek language they were written, literally mean

  • “an age” or
  • “last in a series of places” and
  • “last in a temporal succession of time”.

It is important to know that these LAST DAYS are not a sudden cessation of time.  Instead, they are an age or an era leading to and END OF TIME and ultimately to the end of the heavens and the earth.

  • It is important to know that once a tribulation seal is opened or broken, the effects of that seal can go on for an indeterminate time
  • It is important to know that once a tribulation seal is opened or broken, the effects of that seal can overlap with other tribulation seal judgments
  • It is important to know that the intensity of God’s judgments increase in intensity and ferocity. 
    • The initial tribulation seals 1 through 5 are referred to as “BIRTH PAINS” or the “tribulation”  (small “t’ with the absence of the adjective “great”) 
    • Seals 6 and following are referred to as the “GREAT Tribulation” and “A time of Great Tribulation such as the world has never seen and will never see again”.

What The New Testament Says About

THE END OF THE AGE

Matthew 24:3  As He (Jesus) was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

NOT YET THE END

4  “And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

5  “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

6  “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

MERELY THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PANGS

7  “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

8  “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

ENDURE TO THE END

9  “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

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

11  “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

12  “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.

13  “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

THEN THE END WILL COME

14  “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Therefore…

Go here for The Great Tribulation – Part 3

THESE LAST DAYS? – Part 1

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

2 Timothy 3:1  “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. Verse 2, For men will be

  • lovers of self,
  • lovers of money,
  • boastful, arrogant, revilers,
  • disobedient to parents, ungrateful,
  • unholy, unloving, irreconcilable,
  • malicious gossips, without self-control,
  • brutal, haters of good,
  • treacherous, reckless,
  • conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
  • holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; 

Avoid such men as these.”

You don’t have to look very hard or very far to see that these verses from 2 Timothy describe much of society today.  But, it is nothing new.  Since these verses were written in the first century AD, these problems of character and behavior existed then as well as now.

Sadly, many of the people “in church” can be described this very way.  But, again, this was written to the people in the church in the first century AD, so again, the problem has been ongoing.

People who hold these view and demonstrate these character qualities always have reasons for their behavior, and they truly don’t see a problem, so they rarely see the need to correct their thinking or behavior.  This is why we see Jesus and the Apostles teaching on these matters – to correct people’s thinking, attitudes and behaviors.

More to the point, however, this is a description of “THE LAST DAYS”, and it has been ongoing since around AD 1.  Jesus and His disciples taught that “THE LAST DAYS” were underway in as early as AD 1.

Now, disturbingly, in 2020, even some of our medical professionals are advocating for a more progressive or liberal and accepting view of these behaviors.

THE LAST DAYS

Take a close look at these words of Jesus and the Apostles Paul and Peter as they spoke of THE LAST DAYS or the LAST TIMES.

The words, when referring to THE LAST DAYS, THE LAST TIMES, THE END, which were spoken by Jesus, Paul and Peter, in the Greek language they were written, literally mean

  • “an age” or
  • “last in a series of places” and
  • “last in a temporal succession of time”.

It is important to know that these LAST DAYS are not a sudden cessation of time.  Instead, they are an age or an era leading to and END OF TIME and ultimately to the end of the heavens and the earth.

Go to “WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO ME?” here PART -2

CROWDS

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A MESSAGE ABOUT CROWDS

There are 16,435 sermons on the subject of CROWDS at sermoncentral.  One message struck a chord with me.  The speaker described crowds, to include gangs.  He spoke of why and how crowds form, the intentions of crowds, the makeup of crowds, the psychology of crowds, the effect of crowds and the different types of crowds.

Toward the end of the message, the speaker remarked, “And Christianity is one of the largest CROWDS in the world.  In fact, it is almost like a “GANG”.

You see, “GANG members” have their own titles, their own logos and symbols they wear.  They have their own music style, their way of dressing and acting.  And, sometimes, GANG members can be intimidating, just like Christians.

“But, Christians have even more.  They have their own buildings, artwork, radio and televisions and broadcast stations and satellite networks.  They have their own banking systems, clothing lines, banks and religious centers.”

The Bible mentions the word CROWD or CROWDS, in relation to Jesus, 137 times in the New Testament.

After I read these passages, I wondered.  “HAVE I BECOME A GANG MEMBER?  Or part of the CROWD?” 

After you read this letter, I’ll ask you, also, “Have you become a gang member?  Or part of a crowd?  

Watch carefully as the Crowds in the Bible, who followed Jesus around, go from

  • Inquisitive to
  • Amazement and
  • Adoration, and then become
  • Angry – every time.  Every time.

THE THING ABOUT CROWDS

I am giving just a few examples here, how crowds acted and reacted to Jesus following the pattern of Inquisitive to Amazement & Adoration, to and then Angry.  (You can read all the verses about the CROWDS which followed Jesus at this link https://www.whitestone2014.com/crowds ):

INSQUISITIVE

Matthew 4:23, “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.  (v24)  The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.  Verse 25.  Large CROWDS followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

AMAZEMENT

Matthew 7:28, “When Jesus had finished these words, the CROWDS were amazed at His teaching;

Matthew 8:1, “When Jesus came down from the mountain, large CROWDS followed Him.

Matthew 9:8, “But when the CROWDS saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Matthew 14:19, “Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the CROWDS, verse 20, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets.

Verse 21. “There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.

ADORATION

Matthew 21:9, “The CROWDS going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!”

ANGRY

John 6:24 So when the CROWD saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.

Verse 51. “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

Verse 53. “So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.

Verse 54. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Verse 55. “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.

Verse 66. ” As a result of this, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.

Matthew 26:55, “At that time Jesus said to the CROWDS, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me.

Matthew 27:20, “But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.

What has been your pattern while following Jesus, so far? 

  • Were you, initially, INQUISITIVE?
  • Have you come to be AMAZED by Him?
  • Do you ADORE Him?

BEWARE:  The next step in this pattern is ANGER.  It doesn’t flare up all-at-once.  It is gradual and progressive.  As long as you think you are getting what you expected, you are full of wonder and amazement, showing adoration for God.

But then, perhaps the music at church, has become less than what you expect, and you become annoyed.  Maybe the sermons aren’t ‘feeding you’ just right, so you have become dissatisfied.  Maybe the sermons are too ‘hard’ or about Bible subjects you don’t like, such as sin or hell, and they bother you so you miss a Sunday here and there.  And maybe, on one of those missed Sundays, nobody from the church called to see about you, and you feel neglected or ignored, so you get angry.  Yep.  ANGER sets in and the patter is complete.

Now, you should ask yourself, are you following Jesus as His disciple?  Or, are you just following Him around – as part of the CROWD?

This is what can happen when you become part of the CHURCH CROWD.

Jesus did not call us to be THE CROWD.  He called us to BE THE CHURCH and to BE HIS DISCIPLES who go and make other disciples.

We are NOT to be part of the church gang, following after the conferences, the church programs and becoming just a weekly attendee of the religious services (aka, worship services).

Hebrews 6:4–8, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen c away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss, they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end, it will be burned.”

The Day of the Lord is near.  Let’s get ready and stay ready for His return.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED – EVERY ONE OF YOU

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

The preacher gently places a cloth over the  mouth and nose of the young man and states these words, “You are buried with Christ” as he lowers the young man, back into the baptismal pool, “And you are raised to new life with Christ”.

The observers applaud.

 

The preacher then hugs the young man, ushers him out of the pool and exits, himself.

Many, if not most Christian churches consider baptism as “an outward sign of an inward decision”. A reenactment. A ritual. A sacrament (a religious ceremony or ritual).

However, The Apostle Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

Please read the verse again – and think: Peter said to them,

• “Repent, and each of you be baptized
• in the name of Jesus Christ
• for the forgiveness of your sins;
• and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Baptism, in the name of Jesus Christ, is for

• the forgiveness of your sins, and for
• the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism in the Name of Jesus, in obedience to Jesus and for the Cause of Jesus, is an act of obedience resulting in a supernatural event.

1. Baptism is a Covenant with God.

Baptism is a contract, a compact, a treaty and a pact.

Baptism is an accord, a deal, a settlement, a concordat and protocol.

It is an agreement, an arrangement, an understanding, a pledge, a promise, a bond, an indenture, a guarantee, a warrant, an undertaking.

Baptism is a commitment between you and God; between your body, mind and spirit with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

2. Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ is a natural reenactment of supreme importance, with deep significance.

Baptism is Contract in Blood which ignites a series of supernatural events culminating in God the Holy Spirit enveloping and inhabiting the believer. One means little without the other.

3. Baptism both signifies and seals your covenant with God.

You covenant that you willingly die to your old life, as with Christ on the cross of crucifixion. Your old life and your old ways are buried in His empty tomb, as you are being plunged into the waters of baptism.

Then, as you rise up out of the waters of baptism, you are born again, to walk in a new life of freedom, forgiveness and servant-hood to Jesus and His Cause.

You agree to follow and serve God the rest of your life, now, and, into eternity.

Your Friend and Brother,

Mike Young

PS: Have you “sealed the deal”? Have you been baptized – with the Prophetic Words of the Apostle Peter in mind?

Every Word and command of the Bible leads us to Jesus. The results should be miraculous and spectacular. You should never be the same again.

If you are mixing the thinking of this world and trying to follow Jesus, IT JUST WON’T WORK PROPERLY. You just cannot mix salt water into your drinking supply and get fresh water. IT JUST WON’T WORK.

FOLLOW HIM, COMPLETELY. IT WORKS.

SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE & SUMMARY OF WHAT IS COMING

(NOTE: The prophecies of the Book of Daniel have proven to be amazingly accurate to this day.  Some prophecies are still unfolding such as the following prophetic text which was written in the 6th century BC, sometime between 605 BC and 540 BC.  I have highlighted and linked some text for easy reference.  Please open and read links for detailed explanations.)

  Daniel 12:1 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 

(Commentary:  Daniel 12:1 is a panorama of the LAST DAYS, which encompasses the Ascension of Christ, this current day, and culminates at the White Throne Judgment.)

Verse 2. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 

(Commentary:  This is a description of the Rapture from an earthly perspective)

Verse 3. “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 

Verse 4. “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”

(Commentary:  Jesus OPENS the seals of this book, which began after His resurrection and continues to this day)

Verse 5.  “Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river. verse 6. And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?”  verse 7.  I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time;  and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. 

(Commentary:  These verses are a summary description of the 7 Years of Tribulation, also known as The Great Tribulation, which will begin with the opening of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation.)

Verse 8.  “As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” Verse 9. He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. 

(Commentary:  These events were kept hidden, concealed, until the Ascension of Christ and were written sometime between AD 35 and AD 100)

Verse 10. “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.Verse 11. “From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 

(Commentary:  Verse 10 give us the purpose of The Days of Distress (Tribulation Seal 1 through Seal 5.  Seals 6 and 7, The Trumpets and the Bowls are Judgments.  Verse 11 is a summary of the endurance of the Great Tribulation Period or 7 Years)

Verse 12. “How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! 

(Commentary: go to “Gotquestions.org”, and read about the tribulation and the 1260 days, the  1290 days and the 1335 days)

Verse 13. “But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

(Commentary: Every man, woman and child of God has their own way to go, end to meet and there is a rest and an inheritance provided for each at the end of the age.)

Take great Hope, dear friends.  God’s plan for our world and the timetable are set by Him.  We may rest securely in Him.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  Here is a great video to accompany this post.

THE EARTH IS GROANING

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE ENTIRE EARTH IS GROANING

  • 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.”

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 WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE WINDS STOPPED 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.”

Science is recently saying what the Bible has been saying for centuries.

AN URGENT MESSAGE TO THE WORLD

All of this has been recorded ahead of time and is foretold in great and frightening detail.  You simply need the “eyes to see” and “the ears to hear”.

All of these things and this historic time had been recorded, in various books of the Bible, in particular, the Book of Revelation.

THE ENTIRE EARTH IS GROANING

“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.”

Our time for this planet is short, but God says,
            “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME, I LISTENED TO YOU,
            AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION, I HELPED YOU.”
            Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—

The wise man or woman will turn to God and live, but the fool says in their heart that there is no God!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

If you have the time, please read further:

Frightfully, most Christians have bought into a ‘wait and see if it’s really true, narrative’ fed to us, some by our own religious institutions.

Listen to what the Apostle Peter tells us about this,

Act 2:14 “But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them:

“Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. Verse 15. “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;

Verse 16. But this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

Verse 17. ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;

Verse 18. EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
And they shall prophesy.

Verse 19. ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.

Verse 20. ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.

Verse 21. ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’

Peter is telling us that the “Last Days” started at or around Pentecost, in the year AD 30, as prophesied in Joel 2:28-32. Now here is the scenario as told by Jesus from the Revelation:

The 1st Tribulation Seal – International (Global) conquest and political intrigue, ongoing since AD 1

The 2nd Tribulation Seal – Global Wars and Rumors of War, ongoing since AD 1

The 3rd Tribulation Seal – Global Famine, ongoing since AD 1

The 4th Tribulation Seal – Global Death, pandemics, ongoing since AD 1

The 5th Tribulation Seal –Martyrs, persecution, revealing of the Anti-Christ, the great falling away (apostasy), now underway and growing worse

The 6th Tribulation Seal – Cosmic and Astronomical phenomenon, weather disturbances, cosmic cataclysms. This has not occurred yet, but is on the horizon. This happens after the rapture of the Church.

Global Warming?  Something is happening, folks. But, it is not what we are being told and not for the reasons we are being told by the news media. But, something is happening!

So, how can you know the truth, and what can you do about it? Well, since God is the One allowing it and since His Word (The Bible) has foretold this coming event, I would say “Go to God’s Word and find out for yourself”.  In the meantime, GET READY!

(Click here or on the image above for details about “WHAT IT MEANS TO GET READY“. Please read the entire article, but, Page 31 tells the Christian, specifically, what it means to get ready.)

 

GOOD NEWS or FAKE NEWS?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

I want to go out on a limb, with this one. 

Have you ever bought something you expected to work a certain way only to find out it didn’t seem to work that way at all?

Perhaps, you have bought a certain electronic device and try as you will, it does not perform as promised.  So you might think, “I should just send this thing back or throw it away!”  Only to have your child or grandchild come to you, take the device, push a button here or there and PRESTO!  Just as promised.  You discover it wasn’t the “thing”, it was you!!

It can be the same way in our relationship with God and His Word.  When I hear and see some of the “things” people do and say in relation to God and His Word, it is no wonder that Christianity does not perform like it is Written.

Additionally, much of what is being preached today, and is passed off as The Gospel of Jesus Christ is, well, FAKE NEWS!”

For example:

#1.  We are being told to “Pray a little prayer and ask Jesus into our heart and we will be saved”.  FAKE NEWS!

The audacity to think that we, a puny, finite creation, made of dust, would assume we are worthy of or could even begin to tell The One and only True God, Creator of all things, what to do?! 

The Bible says that if you want a relationship with GOD, then you must

  • You come humbly to God
  • ask for mercy
  • repent of your ways,
  • die to your old self,
  • forsake who you are and all you know,
  • confess your sins,
  • cry out for mercy
  • confess Jesus as your only hope, and as your Lord and Savior,
  • commit to follow Him and His ways

Romans 10:9 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;

v10  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

v11  For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

#2.  We are being told we should “Claim the promises of God”.  FAKE NEWS!

God’s promises exist and permanent whether you claim them or not.  Claiming them does not validate God’s promise in your life.  The Bible uses the word promise, promises or promised 139 times.  And not once does it tell you to claim what is already yours.

In fact, claiming what is already yours sounds extremely childish and one who teaches ‘claiming God’s promises’ is immature in their thinking.

Imagine an adult friend standing in his or her driveway, loudly proclaiming, “In the name of God I claim this car!  Thank you God for the car which is coming.  I receive your car!” 

You want to shout at this person, “Hey, it’s already your car! It-is-already-yours.  Just drive it!  And, will you please, stop claiming God is going to give you something you already have? You look and sound ridiculous.”

We should, instead, appropriate what God has already given us for His Glory and for our own use.  (Appropriate defined:  “Take (something) for one’s own use, typically without the owner’s permission”.)

#3.  We are being told that God answers prayer by saying, “Yes, No or Wait”.  FAKE NEWS!

This is found NOWHERE in the Bible.  The Bible says that God either hears your prayers and answers your prayers or He does not hear you and cannot answer what He does not hear.

Matthew 7:7 ¶  “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.

Psalms 66:18  If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;

#4.  We are told that God wants everyone to always prosper and to always be in good health.  FAKE NEWS!

This idea probably comes from the Apostle John’s greeting to Gaius in 3rd John 1:2, where he says, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

The Bible says you can prosper and God gives us instructions and ways to help us prosper, both in our soul and in our natural body.

For example, the Bible say you will be healthier if you eat right, happier think right and more prosperous if you do right.

But what God wants is for humankind to come to Him, to love Him and to love one another.  God wants us to obey Him, to follow Him and to spread The Good News about His Son, Jesus.

Listening to God and obeying Him may assist us in living a more prosperous and peaceful life.  But, oftentimes in our service to God, we will suffer and experience poor health.

Avoidance of trouble is not God’s goal for us.  Serving Him faithfully, obediently and Eternal life are.

#5.  We are taught that prayer changes things or “moves the Hand of God”.  FAKE NEWS!

The Bible gives us examples where prayer brings results.  But, too often we are taught to pray to get God to do things on our behalf or to give us things.

In other words, we use prayer as a way to get God to serve us.  HOW LUDICROUS!

We are told to be like Jesus and Jesus said, “I did not come to be served but to serve”.  This is our calling, also.

Jesus also reminds us that even He could only do what He saw the Father doing ahead of time, and He only said what the Father had already said.  (John 5).  We should be mindful and pray “according to His Will” which is revealed in His Word.

Rather than “twisting God’s Arm” our prayers should be “How may I serve You this day”, shouldn’t they?

To echo an Oswald Chambers quote,

“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.  To say that prayer changes things is not as close to the truth as saying, Prayer changes me and then I change things.”

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News.  But, it is His Gospel, not ours.

Listen to what Pastor John MacArthur, said, “No temporal, political, social enterprise is a component of the Saving Gospel. 

“You can go to the New Testament and you will never find anything except ‘Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, confessing Him as Lord, believing in His death and resurrection,  confessing your sins, repenting – THAT’S THE GOSPEL.  Nothing can be added to that.”

And, hear what Pastor Alistair Begg said, “Our mandate in the world is not political, it’s not social, and it’s not economic.  The calling of the church is to proclaim the gospel. 

“Our responsibility is not to disrupt that environment, but it is instead to show the difference that the gospel makes.“

If you and I want see the Presence of God in our daily lives, if we want to see our prayers powerfully answered and if we must know and do God’s Word in order to experience God‘s Word, just as it is promised!

Let’s pray for one another and encourage one another to know God better each day so we may walk in the Works which He prepared for us, ahead of time.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Whitestonefellowship@earthlink.net

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Thank you for your response. ✨


IS THAT WRONG?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Last evening we had our second group gathering in Our study of Worldviews by the Truth Project, a Focus on the Family sponsored study lead by Dr. Del Tackett, Senior Vice President of Focus on the Family.  The topic / tour this week was “Philosophy & Ethics”.

 There were several ‘takeaways’, but the one thing we discussed the most was titled,

“What is Right? What is wrong? – Ethical implications of postmodernism”.

The conclusion presented by the Dr. Tackett and other theologians on the video was that there is no basis for ethical standards or ethical language in a naturalistic or Non-Christian, Non-Biblical worldview”. To emphasize that point, I told of this real life occurrence:

I was stopped by an acquaintance while on a walk and he asked me, “What do you think of these riots and the looting?”

I responded with, “I think it’s a shame that people are burning down cities and business after looting them and killing people in the process.  I think it is evil.”

This acquaintance quickly countered with, “Well, they had no choice.”  His response was so quick that I felt he knew what he was going to say even before I could answer him.  In other words, he was just wanting to start an argument and espouse his point of view, his worldview, if you will.

I answered him.  But, before I tell what I said, I would like to know what you would have said. 

Before you answer, please remember,

1.  Although I was unaware, at first, it became apparent that this guy was wanting to argue, not discuss to subject which he introduced.

2.  This guy was wanting to promote his worldview.  He did not really want a discussion and he did not to hear my view.

So, what would you have said to him?

 

My answer to his remark that ‘the looters and rioters had no other choice’ was, “You don’t solve evil with more evil.”

Again, this man responded with a flat, “They had no choice”.

I repeated myself, “You cannot solve the evils of racism by responding with the evils of hate, revenge, murder, and destruction.  It is WRONG!”

This man dismissed me with a wave of his hand, saying, “Well, that’s your opinions”, as he prepared to ride away on his bicycle.

I finished my remarks to him with, “Yes, it is my opinion, but it is more.  It is the truth.  Your view is that evil, revenge and hate are okay –  and that is wrong!” 

The point is, we, as Christians, are to say what is true without arguing or trying to convince anyone.  The Truth will stand on its own.  But, we must speak it simply and directly and with conviction, remembering, “they have been taken captive in their imaginations” and we must “gently instruct them” yet let our “speech be seasoned with salt” .  (Colossians 4:5-6)


My wife, Betty Young, who usually doesn’t say much in these gatherings, highlighted our closing, “You can’t change people by external influences or fancy arguments.  It is a matter of the heart.  God has to change their heart before they will change their mind.  We just need to tell them the Truth.”

Wow!  Yes!  We must speak up!  And, with the Truth from God’s point of view, which is found exclusively in the Bible.  Then leave the results to God. 

Of course we stand ready with the answer for our Hope, but, ultimately, it is up to God.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Ephesians2:10

I recommend this study.  Contact me if you need assistance.  We need to “Be prepared with an answer”.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

AND I ASK AGAIN

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

  • “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
  • “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;”  Romans 8:26
  • “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed their of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.”  Hebrews 1:1-3

WHAT IF?

Like I previously said, I am beginning to see these verses in a different light.  What if what these verses say, are exactly what they mean?

1.  Are God’s thoughts beyond our capacity to understand?  Is it that we, as finite humans, simply cannot grasp the Mind and Intentions of God?

2.  Is it true that when God, The Holy Spirit, prays for us, that His Words (Groanings) are too deep for us to understand in words?

3.  Did God send Jesus so we could comprehend God?  So, we could know Who God is, What God is and about God and His Purposes, His Plans and Intentions?  So we can see the exact representation of His nature understand our relationship to Him?

WHAT IF?

Did not Jesus say we are to know Him, follow Him, represent Him and to do His Works.  Is that even possible?  Or is it rhetoric and hyperbole?

Perhaps we have continued to see the things of God strictly through humans eyes, that is through our limited human understanding, and fallen woefully short of what He intends for us.

What if He what He has said is perfectly true and our failure as humans to perform as He described, is “on us “and our self-centered views?

WHAT IF?

Wasn’t Jesus clearly explaining to us that 

“…The Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” ?  John5:19

Isn’t Jesus clearly explain to us,

“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. 13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.  15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” ?   John14:12

Doesn’t the Bible clearly tell us that

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10

Isn’t Jesus is saying it is HE who PREPARES THE WORKS and it is HE who DOES THE WORKS, and that HE Works through us?  (Even though, to the human eye and understanding, it appears that we are doing His Works.)

If this is so, can we do what Jesus has not only told us but requires and has commanded of us?

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

Friends, over the next few days or weeks (or months?) I will be in discovery.  Will you join me?  There is Kingdom Work to be done until He Returns.  Could we be on the VERGE!

Your Friend and Brother,



Mike Young

And I ask…

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

My wife likes to quote a favorite preacher (Alistair Begg), who likes to say, “The main things are the plain things, and the plain things are the main things.”

I try to remember and practice this when reading, talking about or studying the Bible.  The problem is that sometimes the MAIN THING isn’t so PLAIN to me.

  1. For example, when the Bible says (i.e., GOD SAYS),

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

*Is He saying that I CANNOT fully understand Him?

  1. Another Example is when the Bible says (GOD SAYS),

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;”  Romans 8:26

*Is He saying that I CANNOT fully understand Him?

  1. And, one last example is when the Bible says (GOD SAYS),

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed their of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.”  Hebrews 1:1-3

*Is He saying that I CAN fully understand Him?

So which is it?  CAN I or CAN I NOT?

C.S. Lewis, from the early to mid 1900s, a well known and influential British writer and author of widely read books such as The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Space Trilogy, and for his non-fiction Christian apologetics, such as Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain, says, in part, that we should accept those things about God which we can understand and put aside those things that trouble us or which we cannot understand, for now, until God reveals them to us.

WHAT IF?

However, as I am beginning to see these verses in a different light, I have to ask,   “What if these verses are saying exactly what they mean?”  And, what are the implications to us and to our world?  (Really – THIS IS BIG!)

If you want to come with me, please come to “AND I ASK, AGAIN – P2” and let’s explore & talk…

“AND I ASK AGAIN – P2”

WHY BOTHER?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

I am writing a short “devotional for disciples” every day or two.  Why?  I mean, I can’t tell if anyone reads them or even cares.  And, like most things, routine becomes tedious – for a reader, anyway.

So, why do I bother?  If anyone cares, I’ll tell you why.

1.  Because it is my daily devotional study. 

  • It is from the Bible. 
  • I need to be taught by God,
  • I need to be reminded of His Word,
  • I need to be trained in His Righteousness, and
  • I need to be encouraged, and this is how I do that.

2.  Because it is the One Thing that excites me enough to tell others.  And I pray and hope that it encourages and helps someone else, too.

3.  Because in this “Day and Age” it is the only and best hope we have

4.  Because one cannot overstate the importance of knowing the Power of the Word of God

5.  Because one cannot overstate the importance of knowing the Effectiveness of the Word of God

6.  Because one cannot overstate the importance of being able to “Accurately Handle the Word of Truth” in these days for He says,

If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; 

If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

Please, dear friends, don’t be deceived by the urgency of the cares of this world.  We are at the Last Hour, and we must Be Ready for what is upon us. 

Please.  The party is over.  These are dangerous days.  Equip yourself.  Stand firm.  Resist the devil and draw near to God.  We will overcome!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
            Whom shall I fear?
            The LORD is the defense of my life;
            Whom shall I dread?

      2When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
            My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.

      3Though a host encamp against me,
            My heart will not fear;
            Though war arise against me,
            In spite of this I shall be confident.

      4One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
            That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
            To behold the beauty of the LORD
            And to meditate in His temple.

      5For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
            In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
            He will lift me up on a rock.

      6And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
            And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
            I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

      7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice,
            And be gracious to me and answer me.

      8When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
            “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.”

      9Do not hide Your face from me,
            Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
            You have been my help;
            Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
            O God of my salvation!

      10For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
            But the LORD will take me up.

      11Teach me Your way, O LORD,
            And lead me in a level path
            Because of my foes.

      12Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
            For false witnesses have risen against me,
            And such as breathe out violence.

      13I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD
            In the land of the living.

      14Wait for the LORD;
            Be strong and let your heart take courage;
            Yes, wait for the LORD.

SAYS WHO?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment
Who says3.jpg

​Remember that phrase?  Siblings arguing.  One kid says “I can do what I want!”, and the other sibling says, “Oh, yeah?  Says who?”

Now the argument gets serious.  In other words, the second sibling is saying, “On whose authority do you do these things?”

If the first kid says, “I say!”, then he carries only the weight of brute force or superior intellect.

But, if he or she says, “Dad said so!” then the first sibling has assumed a superior and credible position.  He or she is speaking from authority.

Incidentally, I was in a discussion with a friend and he said, “I believe we are close to the Rapture and we won’t have top see or endure much more of the troubles of this earth.”

I asked, “Isn’t that time called the Tribulation or the “Last Days”, or the “End of Days” or the “Great and Terrible Day of the Lord”?”

“Yes, it is”, my friend replied.

I responded with, “Oh, yeah.  And, when is that supposed to happen?”

My friend said, “You know, before the tribulation starts.”

I responded again, asking, “When is that?”

He looked at me quizzically and said, “Before the seven years of tribulation.”

I had to say it, “Oh, yeah?  Says who?  Who in the Bible says that?”

(I honestly could not help myself.  But, I know it had to be some pastor or Bible teacher who said what my friend is now saying.   My friend is just repeating some guy.)

​But, now the discussion began in earnest

​So I continued with, “I have it on good authority that The Apostle PETER SAYS, in Acts2:14  

“Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15“For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

​      17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
            ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
            AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
            AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
            AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;

      18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
            I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
            And they shall prophesy.

      19 ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
            AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
            BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.

      20 ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
            AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
            BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.

      21 AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’

PETER GIVES THESE KEY POINTS:

  • This is what Peter said about Pentecost, in AD 1, “but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel’  indicating the LAST DAYS have begun.
  • AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says.  (also in Joel 2, Matt 24, Rev 1 – 13)
  • This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel about the Last Days (Joel 2)
  • AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE  (also in Matt 24, Rev 6, Joel 2)
  • AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, (also in Matt 24, Rev 6, Joel 2)
  • BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.  (also in Matt 24, Rev 6, Joel 2)
  • THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, (also in Matt 24, Rev 6, Joel 2)
  • BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. (also in Matt 24, Rev 6, Joel 2:2)

And I continued with, “I have it on good authority that The Prophet JOEL SAYS, in Joel 2:1 

“Blow a trumpet in Zion,
            And sound an alarm on My holy mountain!
            Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
            For the day of the LORD is coming;
            Surely it is near,

      2A day of darkness and gloom,
            A day of clouds and thick darkness.
            As the dawn is spread over the mountains,
            So there is a great and mighty people;
            There has never been anything like it,
            Nor will there be again after it
            To the years of many generations.


         28“It will come about after this
            That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
            And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
            Your old men will dream dreams,
            Your young men will see visions.

      29“Even on the male and female servants
            I will pour out My Spirit in those days.


30“I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
            Blood, fire and columns of smoke.

      31“The sun will be turned into darkness
            And the moon into blood
            Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

      32“And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD
            Will be delivered;

JOEL GIVES THESE KEY POINTS:

  • Display of wonders in the sky and earth (also in Matt 24:29 and Rev 6:12-14)
  • The sun will be turned into darkness (also in Matt 24:29 and Rev 6:12-14)
  • and the moon into blood (also in Matt 24:29 and Rev 6:12-14)
  • BEFORE the day of the Lord comes

And, I went on with, “I have it on good authority that The Apostle PAUL SAYS, in 1 Thessalonians 4:16

“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. 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

PAUL GIVES THESE KEY POINTS:

  • The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout AFTER wars, famines, plagues, death, (also in Matthew 24:31)
  • with the voice of the archangel (also in Matthew 24:31)
  • and the trumpet of God (also in Matthew 24:31)

And, I went on with, “I have it on good authority that The Apostle PAUL SAYS, in Hebrews1:1 

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son,”

PAUL GIVES THESE KEY POINTS:

  • In these last days, and these Words were spoken in 62 AD.  These were the Last Days.
  • God has spoken to us in His Son in these Last Days.  AD 62.  The End of Days had begun.

​And, I went on with, “I have it on good authority that JESUS SAYS, in  Matthew 24:4

     “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8“But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

      9“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10“At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13“But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 14“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

JESUS GIVE THESE KEY POINTS:

  • “See to it that no one misleads you.
  • “For many will come in My name, and will mislead many.
  • “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. (Rev 6:3)
  • But that is not yet the end.
  • For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, (Rev 6:1)
  • and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. (Rev 6:5)
  • “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
  • Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
  • “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. This is the Apostasy.
  •  “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” and Jesus says wars, rumors of wars, famines & earthquakes are only the beginning of birth pangs, but it is NOT THE END.

And, I went on with, I have it on good authority that JESUS SAYS, in Matthew24:15

“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),  21“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.”

JESUS GIVE THESE KEY POINTS:

  • When you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, Then there will be a great tribulation (also in Daniel 9:25-27, Dan 11:29-32, Dan 12:11-12, 2 Thess 2:3-4)
  • Then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.” (also in Daniel 12:1, Joel 2)

I finished with, “AND I HAVE THIS ON GOOD AUTHORITY. “

​RECAP:

  1. The Last Days, The End of Days, began in AD 1, according to the Apostle Peter. 
  2. The Apostle Paul repeats the same thing as late as AD 62. 
  3. The again the Last Days had begun as witnessed by Jesus remarks when referring to the first five Tribulation Seals, “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”
  4. The world has suffered wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines and deaths from global plagues (Tribulation Seals 1 through 4) for many centuries. 
  5. The Church is now undergoing a phenomenon of a worldwide Apostasy, the rejection of Christianity by someone who formerly was a Christian. The term apostasy means a departure, revolt or rebellion. It has been described as “a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, Christianity, which we see as churches, worldwide, have rejected the Bible and the final authority and twist scriptures of satisfy their own lust and their seared conscience. (the 5th Tribulation Seal).
  6. Everything up to and including the Great Apostasy have occurred and is occurring. 
  7. We are now waiting for the revealing of the “Man of Perdition”, also known as the antichrist, the one who stands in the Holy Place and commits the Abomination if Desolation.  And, once that occurs, the timing of events will accelerate wildly.
    1. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
    2. “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
    3. “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.
    4. “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.


We have to get this right because we have His Work to do until this has come to an end.  And standing around, looking skyward, waiting for the Rapture is a fatal mistake.  He is going to ask what we have done of which He told us to do.  By this we will know if we are His disciples

So, what do we need to be DOING until He Returns and takes us Home?  What does it mean “TO GET READY“?

Your Brother & Friend in Christ,

Mike Young

I HAVE COME INTO THE WORLD TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

There are a group of us participating in a Home Study, “THE TRUTH PROJECT“. 

The study itself is called a “World View Tour”.  We are told that “there is no direction you can travel that God has not spoken”.  It teaches the Christian World View from twelve areas and disciplines:

1.  Truth

2.  Philosophy

3.  Anthropology

4.  Theology

5.  Science

6.  History

7.  Sociology

8.  “Unio Mystica” – Am I alone?

9.  Law

10. The American Experiment

11. Labor

12. Community

Each week’s lesson is called a “Tour” of one of the twelve “tours” or disciplines.

The first Tour started by asking the question, “Why did Jesus come into the world?”.  Jesus answers that question in John 18:37,

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

THE COSMIC BATTLE

Which brings us to the Cosmic Battle:  TRUTH vs THE LIE which has been raging since the very beginning of time.  And, Jesus said, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  Those who say they are Christians, but do not do as Jesus said, are liars and do not follow Him.

Jesus gave Peter these marching orders:  Matthew16:18  “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

We are still in this Cosmic Battle.  It is not just defensive.  We are on the offense and crashing the gates of hell.

Which brings me to the point, if we are FOLLOWING JESUS, where is He telling us to go and what are our “Marching Orders”?

THE MARCHING ORDERS

1.  Jesus said we are to follow Him.  Have His mindset.  We are to do The Works He has done and even greater Works. We are to be going and making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to observe and do all He has commanded us.  (Follow: Matthew 4, 8, 16, 19, John 12.  Have His mind:  Philippians 2:5.  Do His works:  John 14:12.  Make disciples:  Matthew 28:19)

2.  We are to gird ourselves up with Spiritual Armor and stand strong.  We are in a spiritual Battle which is being fought in the Heavens and is being played out on the earth through men and women.  The origins and spiritual but the manifestation of the battle are real and deadly.  (Ephesians 6)

THE CAMP OF GOD’S SPIRITUAL ARMY

A.  The Camp:  The prayer warriors, planners and doers of the Word, deacons and pastors.  Those who don’t mind (would prefer) to be in the background, working without notice, helping.  Praying, encouraging, protecting, planning, supporting, serving, building up the Body.

Pastors, Deacons – Poymane-Diakonos (poy-mane’- dee-ak-on-eh’-o)

B.  The Front Lines:  The evangelists, teachers, preachers and front line workers.  Those who don’t mind being in view and out-front, taking the heat and standing strong with the support of the prayer warriors.  Preaching the Gospel, teaching everything Jesus taught, prophesying the truth, calling out evil, casting down strongholds.

The Evangelist, Preacher, Teacher – Euaggelistes- kerux- didaskalos (yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace’- kay’-roox- did-as’-kal-os)

C.   These are the guards of the camp:  These are ones who will defend the camp, using force, if necessary.  These are called the “Army of God”  – 1 Chronicles 12:22.  Defending the Body, apologists, warriors, self sacrificing for the good of the Church.

The Army of God.  ‘Elohiym-machaneh  (el-o-heem’- makh-an-eh’

THE MISSION’S MULTI-PRONGED ATTACK PLAN

Details of the Mission

Reach –   “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Teach – “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Send -Jesus said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Details of the Mission

Comments or Questions?  Contact me.

whitestonefellowship@earthlink.net

                                   or

https://www.whitestone2014.com/white-stone-fellowship  (at the bottom of that web page)

Your Brother and Friend,






Mike Young

Prosperity in the Bible (page 1)

~ Michael Young, Sr.

Prosperity begins here.

We are told to make a choice:

Choose life and prosperity

or

death and adversity.

Deuteronomy 30:8 “And you shall again obey the LORD, and observe all His commandments which I command you today.

9 “Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers;

10 if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.

11 ¶ “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.

12 “It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’

13 “Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’

14 “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

15 ¶ “See, I have set before you today

life and prosperity,

and

death and adversity;

16 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.

But, is what we hear about prosperity from Christian Preachers today the same as what we read from the Word of God?

The Bible tells us that we will experience both prosperity and adversity and life and death.

The balance of scriptures. This is what is usually omitted from “prosperity preaching” today. We usually only hear about the Victory and the Prosperity.

But, the Bible tells us to expect to encounter both.

Read the following and consider that this is the Eternal, Unchanging, Word of God:

Deuteronomy 27:1 ¶ Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, saying, “Keep all the commandments which I command you today.
2 “So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime
3 and write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over, so that you may enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
4 “So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up on Mount Ebal, these stones, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime.
5 “Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool on them.
6 “You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God;
7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God.
8 “You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly.”
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the LORD your God.

10 “You shall therefore obey the LORD your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.”

11 ¶ Moses also charged the people on that day, saying,
12 “When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
13 “For the curse, these shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14 “The Levites shall then answer and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice,
15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
17 ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
18 ‘Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
19 ‘Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
20 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
21 ‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
22 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
23 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
24 ‘Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
25 ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
26 ‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’