What to Expect in 2024

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”  Romans 5:1-4 NKJV

How many of us can truly say we rejoice in suffering? I expect the answer is not too many, which is certainly understandable from a human point of view. Nobody likes to suffer hardships, difficulties, temptations, or times of testing, yet if we look closely at the scriptures they make it perfectly clear that not only are we going to experience them, they should be expected. Now to many that might seem to be just the opposite from what we should expect since our God is a God of love, and it seems reasonable to presume that He should reward us for our faith by removing trials from our lives. 

Yet not only do we find ourselves experiencing hardships, from the communications I have been receiving lately from many believers, it seems that more and more of us are finding ourselves in some extremely troubling situations, myself included. Also, from all that I read, many believe that 2024 will bring increasingly difficult circumstances if not outright calamity. Why? Well I believe it might not come as a surprise to you to find out I think it is because our time is rapidly running out! 

From all accounts it would appear that even the most skeptical believers are now wondering if what we are witnessing is indeed the beginning of the end of our world. Even unbelievers are questioning events by using Biblical terms such as tribulation, apocalyptic, and even judgment. If we accept the premise that the end is near, does it not make sense for us to believe that we will experience more opportunities to exhibit our faith? After all, if we believe the signs are pointing to the end of the age, don't you think Satan has that figured out as well? If so, just what would you expect his reaction to be? It seems reasonable to expect he would go on the offensive with a vengeance!

“Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”  James 1:13 NKJV

Although trials do not come from God, He certainly allows them to occur in our lives, so the question we must ask is "Why"? I may be wrong, but from my study I have come to the conclusion from my own life that God allows us to go through trials and suffering for at least three reasons.

One; Testing is an opportunity to show God our faith in His promises.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

Anyone who has experienced love in their life understands the difference between "saying" you love someone and "showing" you love someone. When I was a young believer I remember someone speaking on faith and using this illustration. You may say you have faith that the airplane can fly, but if you never actually get on one you have never demonstrated your faith. When trials come into our lives as believers we have an opportunity to show God we really do believe by exercising our faith in the promises He has given us to deliver us through them.

Two; Testing is a measure to show ourselves where we are and where we fall short.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”  James 1:2-4 NKJV

As I have said before, one of the reasons I like Paul so much is that he constantly compares the Christian life to a race, and I had the opportunity to compete in track for many many years. Now I can truly say I never got to the point where I enjoyed working out, but I knew it was necessary if I wanted to get better. I very much enjoyed the actual races because it was an opportunity to measure my progress and see how much I was improving. Undergoing trials in the Christian life is not necessarily enjoyable, but without them we would never know if we were making progress and growing in our walk with God. Every time we suffer, we know from this verse that God is using it to produce patience, which in turn helps us to mature.

Three; Testing is an opportunity to witness to others.

“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”  1 Peter 4:16 NKJV

If you think about it, what better way to show the world we are different than to show them by how we react to troubles? I don't know about you, but every day I have opportunities to see how unbelievers react to trying situations. I think we could all agree that the common reaction is with anger, frustration, impatience, and most likely language unbecoming. I also think we could all agree that these are the complete opposites of what we, and God, would expect from someone who truly believes. Have you ever had an occasion to witness and glorify God because someone saw you experiencing trials or troubling situations and wondered why you reacted differently? Going through testing and trials may not be enjoyable, but what a wonderful way to show unbelievers that having faith in the promises of God produces a peace that is unexplainable according to the standards of the world.

As I said at the start, I have heard from many of you who are going through some very difficult times. If you look closely at the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 you might notice what Jesus says at the end of every letter; it is the phrase "To him who overcomes". The Greek word for overcomes is nikaō, which means to conquer, to carry off the victory, come off victorious. There is a promise of rewards for those who overcome, yet it would be impossible to be an overcomer if there were not trials to overcome. Rejoice in suffering for as believers the trials we face give us the opportunity to glorify God.

Faith is our spiritual muscle.  We exercise our faith by believing the promises and choosing to follow God as He guides us through life.  The more we rely on Him, the stronger our faith will grow.  By choosing to follow, we allow God the opportunity to show us how much He cares by protecting us and providing for our every need.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”   Philippians 4:19  NKJV

Have you made the choice to follow? Have you have chosen to accept the gift of eternal life provided for us by God the Father?  If not, I would urge you to do it today.  Time to make that choice is indeed rapidly running out and Jesus returning to take His own back with Him to heaven could happen at any time.  All you need to do is simply ask Him for forgiveness for your sin, invite Him to come into your life, and believe He died to pay the price for your redemption.  A simple prayer like this is all that He wants to hear from you.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

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God's Gift to Us

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

I'm sure with Christmas coming this week, most of us are considering the gifts we plan to give, and quite possibly the one's we might receive. Now that I am officially, according to my daughters, old, I find myself thinking about Christmas' past, and the memories I have about them. As I thought this past week, I was struck by how many times I remember receiving a gift much larger, or more expensive than I expected and my feelings when I realized that my gift in return was probably not as nice as the one I received. There were also a few occasions when I received a gift from someone that I did not expect, and felt bad for not getting them one in return. To be sure, our giving should not be measured by the dollar amount we paid, but I think we all can sympathize with the feeling that at times we may have received more than we gave in return.

As you might expect, at this time of year it is more than likely you will hear the words "greatest gift" applied to the birth of Jesus as the Saviour of the world, as well you should. Yet the more I thought about it, the more I wondered what feelings God may have had before making His decision to give such a gift to a sinful, unbelieving world. So let me share with you just a few things that crossed my mind while thinking about God's Greatest Gift.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  John 3:16 NKJV

Why did God give? Because He loved. At this time of year I'm sure most of us would have to confess that all the gifts we give are given to loved ones. Of course, that would probably be defined as family, friends, and those we have special feelings for. Yet God gave to the world, all of mankind, including those who have chosen, and will choose to reject Him! I'm sure something we all have in common is making a list of just who we plan on giving to, and just what we plan to give. Yet it is obvious God chose not to make a list, but rather to give to everyone. Now I think most of us would have to admit we would find it hard to give to someone we knew did not like us, or even hated us, yet even though God knew the majority of the world would reject His gift, He chose to give it anyway. Thinking about that made me wonder if I would be willing to give without reservation to people I knew wanted nothing to do with me. If I am to love as God has, and we have been commanded to do so, I should have no hesitancy at all to do just that.

What did God give? Obviously the most precious gift He possibly could, and that was the life of His own Son, Jesus Christ. I'm sure I'm not alone in taking time after making the list to think carefully about what I plan to give, or how much I intend to spend on the gift for that particular person. Yet there was no hesitation on God's part to give the greatest gift He could. Now as a father with three daughters, this one really got to me. If you were to ask them, I'm sure they would readily admit I was the most overly protective father around. There wasn't much of anything I wouldn't do for them, and not a whole of anything I would let them do. I'm sure they grew tired of looking over their shoulders as they grew up to see if I was watching. School functions, social activities, you name it, I was around, and fortunately for you, time and space prevent me from talking about dating. Now that was a special time. So to even consider the possibility that I could be put in a position to choose to sacrifice one of my own, I really don't think I could do that under any condition. Do you think God had to think about it, or did He make that decision without any hesitation at all?

Who did God give to? All of mankind. Us. Me. I don't know about you, but let me talk about me. A sinner. Someone who probably doesn't even deserve coal in my stocking, much less a gift like the one I received from the God of this universe. I don't even want to consider the possibility of losing one of my daughters yet God had only one Son, and He gave Him for me. Now here is where I start thinking about what could I possibly give to God that carries as much value as the gift He gave me? Unfortunately, I live with the knowledge that I can never give God anything that will compare with what He gave me no matter how hard I may try. 

One of the things I think of when I remember Christmas with my daughters is that I never cared at all what they gave me. No matter what it was, no matter how small, it was enough to know they loved me enough to want to give. All those years when I agonized over the "perfect" gift for each of them, my only thought was to make them happy and the thought of what I might get in return never even crossed my mind. Did God consider what He would get in return when He made the decision to give His own Son to us? I really rather doubt that. God chose to give the most precious thing He had as a gift to us, without thought of return. Yet we can make a decision to give God a gift in return, and I think that is the message for all of us as believers to consider at this time of the year. Have you given God the most precious gift you can in return, or are you holding back? My prayer is that all of us choose to give Him everything we can, and spare ourselves the embarrassment of knowing we could have given more, but didn't. 

If you have never made the decision to give your life to Christ, I would encourage you to do that right now. Confess your sin to God, ask for His forgiveness, and invite Him to come into your life and accept the greatest gift of all, eternal life with Him.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

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What Does It Mean To Watch?

“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.“It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—“lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”  Mark 13:33-37. NKJV

Again today, I want to share an article from another brother, Todd Hampson, that speaks to a subject that you have probable come to understand is foremost in my mind, and that is Jesus’ command to watch.  It is, unfortunately, a subject hardly ever taught from the pulpit today resulting in a church that has virtually no idea how close we are to going home.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Christmas Unseen

The Amazing Connection Between The First Christmas and Our Day

I read a devotion recently that talked about how messed up Jesus’s family tree was—humanly speaking. In it, the author mentioned that many Jewish boys were named Jesus and that the name means “Jehovah is salvation.” Culturally, that entire generation of Jewish parents were waiting for the messiah—so much so that it played out in naming trends.

Reading that article made me think about what it must have been like to live in that culture at that time. It also made me think about how even though everyone was waiting—very few were really watching. Here’s what I mean. While many had embraced the cultural belief in a coming Messiah, few were actually watching for him or paying attention to the signs all around them. While the religious leaders of the day were familiar with history and the predicted time-frame for the arrival of the Messiah (Daniel 9), few were preparing the people. It’s almost as if the long-awaited arrival of the Messiah had become legend or myth in the minds of the average person. They had become comfortable with the idea of the Messiah coming at some point, but not the idea that it could all play out in real time before their eyes. The demands and familiarity of daily life tend to dull our senses to God’s activity all around us.

Second Coming Unseen

In similar fashion, would it be possible to make the same mistake with the second coming of Jesus? We assume the 1st coming was crystal clear, but only a handful of people really knew about the birth of the Savior—a few shepherds (seen as outcasts in their culture), Simeon and Anna at the temple, Mary and Joseph, and the Magi—who showed up about 2 years later after seeing the King’s star. These Magi were most-likely from the area of Babylon with connections to the prophet Daniel who was in exile there about 500 years earlier. Scripture tells us that Daniel became the leader of the Magi during his exile (Daniel 2:48) and he also provided the time-frame for the Messiah’s arrival (Daniel 9:25). It makes total sense that centuries later, the Magi would have been looking for signs of the coming Savior.

Outside of those examples, nobody knew. Three decades later when Jesus hung on a cross, still only a small handful really believed he was the Messiah. Even after the resurrection that number only grew slightly at first. It wasn’t until the church was born on the day of Pentecost that large groups of people began to understand the events of their day. Hindsight is 20/20. We look back at the first coming of Jesus with clarity and we assume we would have known it as it was happening. But the Biblical record tells us that’s not the case. Only a few were truly watching.

We view the events of Jesus’s 1st coming as if it were our favorite movie. We’ve watched it 100 times and know each line, but we still love watching it again. We don’t experience it in real time. We look back to it as a past event. For those who lived it, however, it was a much different experience. This is a very important fact to consider: It was easy to miss what was right in front of them.

Just as there was a two-part 1st-coming of Jesus (birth and then later, the public triumphal entry), there will be a two-part 2nd-coming of Jesus (the rapture of the Church when we will meet Christ in the clouds prior to the tribulation, then His physical return to earth at the end of the tribulation while the whole world watches). Are there things happening right in front of us related to the Lord’s return that we’re not seeing? Are most believers missing the forest for the trees?

Fast-forward To Today

Scripture reveals that believers in Christ are supposed to wait and watch. The church at large is good at waiting—we’re used to that. It’s been 2000 years. We’re not so good at watching though. Active waiting is only half of the equation. For various reasons, the majority of Christians have stopped watching. Please hear my heart on this—I don’t mean for that to sound judgmental. I get it. Life is busy. Life is hard. There are distractions and daily demands. Furthermore, there has been a decades long push to sideline prophecy and eschatology in the Western Church.

Scripture gives us the clear mandate to watch. Jesus gave us the clear mandate to watch, and to know the season or understand the times. There are several specific signs and sign categories we are told to keep an eye on to inform us that His return is near. Over the years date-setters, scoffers, apostate teaching, and sensationalism have taken a toll on the psyche of the average Christian—to the point where many feel there’s no way to really know when the Lord will return. Therefore we continue to wait, defaulting to an assumption that the Lord’s return is still in the vague and distant future. That is a deception from the enemy. We must be vigilant in watching!

Literally, every single sign or sign trend that Jesus (Olivet Discourse), John (Revelation), Daniel (6 of 12 chapters in Daniel deal with end-times prophecy), Paul, and other writers mention, are very factually at play in our day. 100 years ago, none of the signs were in place. Even 10-15 years ago, only some of the prophecy puzzle pieces were in place. Today, they are all in place. There is nothing more that must occur before the rapture can take place, and the stage is 100% set for the great end-time drama to unfold.

What Signs?

Last but not least, here is a brief list of signs that are in place today that were not even on the radar 100 years ago: Russia, Iran, and Turkey in a coalition together with troops positioned just north of Israel’s border. Economic and political instability on every continent. Societal and family breakdown. Increased violence and selfishness. Rise of the occult. Cultural confusion and a rejection of logic. Increasing Apostasy in the church. Israel prospering financially and militarily while horrific antisemitism is on the rise globally. The 18+ conflicts against Israel since Her modern-day founding (including the barbaric recent events). America weakening. Internet and satellite TV. The nations of the world fixated o, religion, and government. A small handful of elite people controlling most of the worlds wealth. The rise of cults and atheism. A world-wide increase of sexual immorality and homosexuality. The list goes on and on. Those are just off the top of my head. Every single one of those was predicted in Scripture as an end-time sign or necessary condition. Let that sink in a minute.

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I pray that as you think about the signs and conditions that were in place for Jesus’s first coming, you’ll take time to wonder, contemplate, and study the Bible to understand the signs of our times. Could it be that we are on the cusp of the next great intersection of God and man?

Lastly, if you want to know what it means to be a Christian, please contact me. I would love to share a few Bible verses with you that clearly explain how we can accept Jesus’s free gift of salvation today. It’s the most important decision you will ever make, whether the rapture occurs in our lifetime or not. God promises abundant (John 10:10) and eternal life (John 3:16). Don’t miss it!

https://toddhampson.com/news/christmas-unseen/

© 2023, Todd R. Hampson. All rights reserved. Originally published at www.toddhampson.com.”

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A Very Specific Sign

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”  1 Timothy 4:1-3. KJV

"abstain from meats"?

The dream for King Charles and his fellow “climate change” fanatics is for meat to be removed from our diets, nitrogen fertilizer to be drastically reduced, and methane emissions from cows to be significantly curtailed. Such changes to our agriculture and diet will lead to “worldwide famine,” but the “climate change” zealots believe it is necessary to combat the dangers of taking no action.

https://townhall.com/columnists/jeffcrouere/2023/12/04/the-cult-of-climate-change-convenes-church-in-dubai-n2631949

The vegan eco-terrorists are waging a war on meat and demanding first-world countries reduce meat consumption to reduce carbon emissions. The United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) rolled out its food guidance for first-world countries at this year’s COP28 in Dubai. If the climate change zealots succeed with their ‘net zero plan,’ the world will go dark and there will be famine.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/tucker-carlson-destroys-john-kerry-climate-change-zealots/

A lead United Nations agency overseeing food and agriculture policy is expected to issue a road map in the coming weeks which will call on the West, including America, to dramatically reduce its meat consumption.

https://nypost.com/2023/11/28/lifestyle/un-calling-on-americans-to-cut-down-on-meat-consumption/

The ongoing United Nations COP28 climate summit in Dubai is offering a wide variety of gourmet food options from vendors who serve beef, even as it prepares a report that is expected to call for the West to reduce consumption of beef. According to the summit's online portal, its food offerings include "juicy beef," "slabs of succulent meat," smoked wagyu burgers, Philly cheesesteaks and "melt-in-your-mouth BBQ" in addition to African street BBQ, fast casual Mexican fare and an Asian option that has a "touch of French flair." The revelation comes as the U.N. faces criticism for preparing a first-of-its-kind report that is expected to be published at the summit and call for lower meat consumption.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/un-climate-summit-serving-gourmet-burgers-bbq-calls-americans-stop-eating-meat

Just when you thought the world couldn’t get any stranger, God’s knowledge of the future as revealed by His prophecy tells us that it not only can, but will, as we approach His return for the Church.  This prophecy given to Timothy by the apostle Paul reveals that in the end times, certain men will attempt to convince the world that it is wrong to eat meat.  Sound familiar?  I know I am not alone in my opinion of these people and their “conviction” concerning meat consumption but truth be told, do they really believe what they are saying?  You did notice the article concerning the menu at the UN summit?

Now I freely admit I am unabashedly a dyed in the wool carnivore, but putting the subject of a good ribeye steak aside, the fact that we see a two thousand year old prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes with such accuracy tells me just one thing.  What more do we need to realize we are living in the very times God describes as the last days of this age?  Understand that this is not a prophecy which could be generalized, but rather a very specific one that we see happening right now.

“The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.”  Act 10:9-16. NKJV

As always, God should have the last say about anything and His thoughts on meat consumption are pretty clear in this vision given to Peter.  We have God’s permission to eat meat with His blessing, and what some are attempting to do is simply tell the world God doesn’t know what He is talking about.  As for me, I choose to receive what God has given with thanksgiving, knowing I have His blessing to do so.  I also choose to believe that this entire subject is a fulfillment of a very specific prophecy from God which He has given to us as a sign that our deliverance from this world is on our very doorstep.

It seems lately that every week we are treated to more and more signs that the rapture of the Church is close at hand.  If you have never made the decision to accept the gift of eternal life offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I urge you to do it today.  Simply tell God you accept His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turn your life over to His control.

 

Father, I know I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin, and I ask you now to forgive me of my sins. I want to receive your gift of salvation so please come into my heart and help me to live and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

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Approaching the End of the Game

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”    Ephesians 6:10-13  NKJV

I will unapologetically admit that I very much look forward to this part of the year when the college football playoffs approach.  While I also enjoy the professional game, I love the emotion and passion of the college game much more.  Being passionate about football, as well as studying what the Bible has to say about the end of the age, my mind being what it is could not help but put the two together and think of an interesting correlation between football and what we can expect from Satan as the Church age approaches its end.

Let me attempt to explain what I am thinking here.  If you follow football at all you are certainly familiar with how the game changes as you approach the last minutes of the game.  In football, not only does the play calling get more aggressive in the fourth quarter, we normally see the two minute offense utilized, where the team that is behind stops using the huddle to call plays and does whatever it can to speed up the game and try to catch the other team off guard. To the uninitiated, what happens on the field in the last minutes looks like total confusion as two teams pull out all the stops and try anything and everything in order to win the game. In other words, if you are behind, the closer you get to the end, tactics change in order to try and pull out a win.

Consider if you will, that if we are approaching the end of this age as many believe, then certainly Satan knows that as well. If we think seriously about it, we should readily admit Satan probably knows the Bible a lot better than we do. This is, of course, the individual who tempted Jesus by using scripture to justify his arguments. There is no question in my mind that Satan is fully aware that his time is running short, so it should be easy to believe that he will change his tactics the closer we get to the end. He will do whatever he can to take as many down with him as he can. So as believers, is it too much to expect that attacks on believers will increase in frequency and severity?

Knowing this, I thought it might be appropriate to look closer at what Paul had to say to us in the book of Ephesians about our fight against Satan and his forces of darkness. In this passage, Paul outlines all we need to know about defending ourselves from these attacks.  Here we see that Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus and explaining God's purpose for the church, as well as outlining what God expects from His people. God knows what we can expect from Satan, so He goes to great lengths here to teach us how to defend ourselves. In verse ten Paul's tells us that our strength is from the Lord, and it is His strength that will fight our battles for us. How often do we fail because we think we can fight our own battles rather than let God do it for us?

Paul then tells us that we need to "put on the full armor of God".  Paul's point here is that to be successful we need to wear the whole suit. It may sound funny, but I remember something that happened when I was playing football in college back in the dark ages. I was a receiver, technically in that particular offense called a split end, and my job was to catch balls over the middle of the field rather than out by the sidelines. I had missed a few balls that were over my head, and I decided that it was my shoulder pads that were hindering my ability to stretch my arms as high as they could go. So I decided a little modification was in order, and after taking some of the "excess" padding off, I could then catch the passes that had up till then been a little out of my reach. All was well and good until the inevitable collision occurred which convinced me that removing part of my protection was a really bad idea. This is Paul's point. To succeed in defending ourselves from the "wiles" of the devil, (or tactics), we need to put on the complete armor leaving nothing off. Why?

The answer to that can be found in verse twelve where he tells us we need to do this because of who and what we are facing. He tells us our struggle is not “against flesh and blood". You see, if it was, we would probably only need to be defended from our front where an attack by a person would probably come from. But we are facing a fight from two fronts; rulers, forces, and powers of darkness of this world, and spiritual forces of wickedness from the heavenly places. So there are at least two fronts to defend ourselves from, and these attacks can come from any direction. There is no way we are capable to defend ourselves in this kind of war. We need to put on the complete armor God has provided, and let Him do the fighting for us.  If we do this, we are told in verse thirteen that we will be able to stand, and not be defeated in that “evil” day.

I think it is entirely possible that the events we are seeing not only in this country, but around the world are a sign that we are in the “fourth quarter” where we see Satan trying anything and everything to try and win the “game”.  As disturbing as it is to watch the world devolve into what can only be described as outright hatred to such a degree that truly only could come from Satan, how reassuring it is for us to know that our strength comes from the Lord and our victory is already won.  We can literally watch as God does our fighting for us and stand firm knowing that our deliverance, the rapture of the Church, is but moments away.

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth for the sole purpose of sacrificing Himself so we can spend eternity with Him in Heaven.  The signs of His imminent return for us are all around us.  If you have never taken the step of accepting this gift of eternal life, I urge you to do it right now.  Simply pray a prayer like this one and confess to God your need for salvation, and accept the gift He provided for you by the death and resurrection of His own Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus I know I am a sinner. I have sinned against you, but I know you loved me enough to send your Son, Jesus Christ to die for my sins and then rise from the dead so that I may live forever with You. Lord forgive me of my sins and come into my life and help me to begin to live for You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Give Thanks for His Love

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”  Luke 10:21  NKJV

“What are you thankful for?”  How many times have you heard this question, especially around this time of year when many gather together for the sole purpose of giving thanks?  I’m sure that over the years most of us have thought about this and made mental lists of all the things we are thankful for, and more than likely if we compared our lists we would find that a great many of us are thankful for many of the same things.  As I thought this week about thankfulness, I began to wonder if it would be appropriate to consider what it might be that God is thankful for, and to consider what, if anything, He would put on His list of things to be thankful for.

There have been times in my life where I wished I was a lot smarter than I am, yet truthfully all I have to do at times like that is read this passage from Luke and give thanks that I am a simple minded soul.  I understand the simplicity of the Gospel and the need I have for salvation, so it makes perfect sense to me that God created me, loves me, and has provided a way for me to spend eternity with Him.  The one question I continually seem to ask myself, however, is I can’t help but wonder if God is thankful that He made me, especially when I think about all the times I have failed Him?

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”    Jeremiah 1:5  NKJV

Something God tells Jeremiah in this passage applies equally to all of us, and that is that in His omniscience God not only knew us before we were conceived, He also was the one who formed us in the womb.  Before He ever made me, God knew exactly how I would turn out, the decisions I would make that would hurt Him, and especially all of the times I would disappoint Him.  God still chose to create me.  I think the question “ is God thankful He created me?” was answered when He made the decision to do so.  My response should be to do everything in my power to please Him in thankfulness for what He has done for me.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”    John 17:20-26  NKJV

In this passage Jesus is praying to the Father just before He is to suffer the agony of the cross.  Yet His prayer is for us, those who have made the choice to accept the sacrifice He is about to make on our behalf, and not for Himself.  Have you ever thought about the fact that the Son of God has prayed for you?  That His concern in the last moments of His life on earth was for us, and not Himself?  Just thinking of that gives us all something to be eternally thankful for and something we should never forget.  Of all the things we might consider giving thanks for, Jesus Christ loves us.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.                            John 15:13-15  NKJV

Sharing the message of the Gospel of Christ with others is the reason we are here, and the way in which we can thank God for what He has done for us.  As we arrive at the time of the year for giving thanks, and giving presents, may we never forget the greatest gift we have been given, and the reason we have to give thanks.  May we all commit to look for ways to share this joy with others in the short time we have left in which to do it.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”  James 1:17  NKJV

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The Earth Trembles

“But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.”  Jeremiah 10:10. NKJV 

As the situation in the Middle East continues to rage with no signs of letting up, an article that many might consider irrelevant to current events showed up this past week that certainly caught my attention.  

https://www.newsweek.com/nearly-50-volcanos-erupting-same-time-1844365

Now granted, many might think this has absolutely nothing to do with current events but I would submit that it quite possibly has everything to do with what we are seeing in Israel today.  Truth be told, I believe strongly that God protects His chosen people and if you dare to instigate any harm to the Jewish people you are inviting a response from God Himself which in all honesty you will certainly regret.  The passage from Jeremiah states plainly that the earth itself will tremble at His wrath.  

Do you believe God is upset at what happened in Israel and the lack of support they are receiving from the rest of the world? Do you think God can and will make His feelings known?  Is it possible the earth is reacting to the emotions of it’s creator as the world is seeming to turn against the Jewish people?  The relationship between the earth and God is one that I have spoken about before and decided to share with you again today.  I would suggest that you consider watching the earth itself as a possible sign that God is preparing to intervene as described in the prophecies of the end of this age.

"The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled. The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about. The voice of Your thunder [was] in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. Your way [was] in the sea, Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known. You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron."    Psalm 77:16-20 NKJV

A subject I have spoken of often has lately begun to make the news in a somewhat obvious way, especially if looked at in light of what Jesus warned about when using the example of signs increasing in frequency and intensity as they do in a woman’s labor. When I talk with people about the command to watch, the question naturally arises as to just exactly what are the sorts of things we should watch for?  That is a very good question, and one that I believe every one of us should ask ourselves in light of what the Word tells us about signs of the end of the age and the nearness of Christ’s return.

In this passage from the book of Psalms, the author is troubled and in despair so he thinks back to the past and the times that God manifested Himself in human history by actions man could only describe as supernatural. The verses above refer to the time that God led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt and through the Red Sea on their journey to the Promised Land. Now I think the important point to make here is that although Moses and Aaron were used by God to shepherd His people, it was God Himself who led them.

"And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, [from] before the people."    Exodus 13:21-22 NKJV

Now why do I think this is important? Look closely at the passage from Psalms and notice what the author says the reaction of the earth was to the presence of God. Do you see what I see? We are told the waters were afraid, the depths trembled, there was a downpour of rain, thunder along with lightning that lit up the entire world, and not to mention earthquakes that shook the earth. Yet to me, the most important part of this passage is the fact that it does not say God “caused” these things to happen, rather it was a response of the earth to actually “seeing” the presence of God. 

Right about now some of you are probably thinking wait just a minute here; do you really believe the earth can “see”? Well, why not? Not only do these verses say it does, we are told elsewhere that the earth can talk too.

"Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: " 'Blessed [is] the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."    Luke 19:37-40 NKJV

So if we are to believe what the Bible tells us, the earth has and can react to the presence of God in physical ways, some of which might surprise us. Is that really so hard to believe? After all, the earth was created by God just as we were created, so who knows what physical reaction could be produced by the approach of the power which created it? This is the question that I would like you to think about in light of some of the things happening in the world right now.

"For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only [that], but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."                              Romans 8:22-23 NKJV

Why does the entire creation groan? No doubt because of the changes brought about by the fall in Genesis where even the shape of this world was altered by the introduction of sin. Notice that Paul is telling us here that both nature and man are waiting for the exact same event; the return of Christ! And the reason we groan? We as believers know what we will receive when Christ calls us home to be with Him forever. The anticipation of leaving this earth grows every day as we watch the events around us which give evidence that the world is, like in Noah's day, moving farther away from God rather than towards Him.

Most of us would agree the Bible clearly teaches that there will be signs that precede the return of Christ, many of which are physical in nature. Events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis can explain many of the events described as occurring just before Christ returns. Many of these things are beginning to happen right now in various places in the world, and most of those who are watching and waiting for His appearing believe the time is very close. Jesus Himself said this about the signs that would appear just before His return.

"For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."  2 Peter 3:5-7  NKJV

"So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near--at the doors!"    Mark 13:29 NKJV

So here is my question for today; does God cause these things to happen, or just like the events in Exodus when God came to earth to lead His people away, is the earth reacting to His approach once again? Is it possible that the increase in frequency and intensity of physical events is because the closeness of Jesus returning for His church is causing a physical reaction by the earth?  If we consider what the Bible has to say as being the true and faithful Word of God, I would suggest that we should, as well as understanding that by what we are told, this is only the beginning.

"Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry."    2 Samuel 22:8 NKJV

My feeling, along with many others, is that time is quickly running out for the Church to accomplish its work here on earth, and it would come as no surprise to hear the trumpet blow and our call to go home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at any time.  If you are reading this today and have never made the decision to allow Jesus Christ to come into your heart, and accept the free gift of eternal life He has offered you, I urge you to do so right now. You can do that by simply praying this prayer and accepting the gift of eternal life God has offered you by the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

Are the stones crying out?

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What Time Is It?

“The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They will be for flocks Which lie down, and no one will make them afraid.”   Isaiah 17:1-2  NKJV

As we watch the events of the past few weeks unfold in Israel, speculation as to where we are on God’s prophetic clock has predictably exploded. On the one hand that would seem to be a good thing as many become aware that prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes.  On the other hand, however, speculation can, and has, covered an increasingly large spectrum resulting in confusion and suspicion within the body.  As someone who has spent many years studying and teaching Biblical prophecy let me share my thought as to where we are on God’s calendar.  Close to the end.

Surprised I’m not a little more specific?  Well it might be just my opinion but in all my years of study of end times prophecy I’ve noticed God chose not to be all that specific about when it was going to occur.  He simply said that we were to watch, and He would show us what to watch for when we were getting close to the end.  So my opinion, for what it is worth, is simply that I believe we are seeing the run up to the fulfillment of the Isaiah 17 and the Ezekiel 38,39 conflicts we have been warned to watch for.

This post is one I have shared before but certainly takes on new meaning in light of what is currently occurring in the Middle East and I wanted to share it with you again today in the hope it might bring some clarification to what we are witnessing in light of where we might be on God’s calendar.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/world/hezbollah-transporting-chemical-weapons-lebanon-help-iran-north-korea-report-claims

Many biblical scholars are of the opinion that the prophecy above from Isaiah is a response by the nation of Israel to an attack using chemical or nuclear weapons against them.  This report from a year ago opened the eyes of more than a few governments and in response, many prophecy teachers speculated that this may lead to the fulfillment of the prophecy we find in Isaiah 17 concerning the destruction of Damascus.  While this may well be the beginning of the process which brings these things about, one question many have asked over the years is just what occurs that provokes Israel to do what it does.

 

That too, was a question I considered at length when I first began my studies of the Isaiah prophecy and the conclusion I came to was the result of searching for the location of the “cities of Aroer” mentioned in the passage above.  Although some might disagree, I believe it is a very strong possibility that, as you can see from the two maps above, what Isaiah may be telling us is that Israel responds to an attack by Syria on the nuclear research facility at Dimona.  While this is certainly speculation on my part, considering the events that have occurred recently, I personally find it hard to believe it is coincidence that the location of Aroer and Dimona appear to be one in the same.

 

The area mentioned in the Isaiah 17 prophecy is described as "the cities of Aroer".  Unlike Damascus, Aroer no longer exists, so we are left to try to identify its location by studying past references, and looking for archeological evidence that might support a conclusion as to its whereabouts. Aroer is mentioned three times in the Bible, and all occur in the Old Testament.  Unfortunately for us, however, each describes a different location, so we are left to examine what the Bible says about each and see if we can decide which location Isaiah is attempting to describe.  The first mention of Aroer is found in the book of Deuteronomy where it says;

 

“From Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and from the city that is in the ravine, as far as Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us; the LORD our God delivered all to us.”   Deuteronomy 2:36  NKJV

 

This site has been identified as being on the northern bank of the Arnon ravine located in the modern country of Jordan, just east of the Dead Sea.  The second mention of Aroer we find is in the book of Joshua, where Moses is allotting land to the twelve tribes and describing their boundaries.  In this verse he describes;

 

“Their territory was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, which is before Rabbah,”   Joshua 13:25 NKJV

 

Joshua describes Aroer as being "before Rabbah".  This city or any ruins of it have never been located, but by the description we know it would need to be situated be some twenty miles or so north of Jerusalem.  The final time Aroer is mentioned before Isaiah’s prophecy is in the book of Samuel, where we find it listed among a group of cities that David is sharing spoil with from his defeat of the Amalekites.  We find when we read that;

 

“those who were in Aroer, those who were in Siphmoth, those who were in Eshtemoa,”    1 Samuel 30:28  NKJV

 

This location has been identified as being in the Negev, twelve miles southeast of Beer-sheba.  We also see from reading this passage that it was one of many cities located in the same area which helped and supported David in his battle with the Amalekites.  Ruins of this city have been found, and you can even locate it on a map if your Bible has maps in the back.  Simply look for a map of Israel in the time of David, and you should be able to see Aroer located in the south of Israel, southwest of Beer-sheba. So we have three different locations to choose from, and no help from the Isaiah passage to identify which one he is referring to.  Is it possible to find a way to know for sure exactly which one of these locations is the one that Isaiah describes as being "forsaken"?

 

First of all, I think it may be logical to assume that Isaiah is referring to the location southeast of Beer-sheba for several reasons.  The first is that if you compare the dates that these three books were written, you find that the Samuel passage was written closest to the time of Isaiah, as opposed to the others which were written much earlier in Israel’s history.   Also, if you look closely at these three locations, you see one of them is in Jordan, not Israel.  Since Isaiah is describing a conflict between Syria and Israel, I think we can dismiss the Jordan location as a possibility.

 

So we are left to choose between two locations, one which has never been positively located, and one which not only has been located, but may have some military significance as well.  If we look at a map of Israel during the time of the twelve tribes, we can easily see where Aroer is located.  Now compare that map with a map of Israel today and you may be surprised to find that a very significant complex has been constructed in the same approximate location of ancient Aroer, and that is the nuclear research facility known as Dimona.  Since Isaiah is describing a future conflict between Israel and Syria, obviously there must be a good reason that Israel chooses to completely destroy Damascus.  Is it possible that it is in response to an attack of some sort on Dimona? 

 

“The cities of Aroer are forsaken;”

 

The word "forsaken" in the Hebrew is "azab" which means "to depart, abandon, loose, relinquish, leave."  The first thing that crossed my mind when I read this was not what it does say, but what it doesn't say.  It doesn't say that Aroer is destroyed; only abandoned.  It also says “cities” which gives the impression of a very large area being affected.  This scenario seems best explained by either the use of chemical weapons, or an attack that somehow damages the reactor and allows radiation to escape.  Obviously the Syrian regime has no problem using chemical weapons on its own people, and Iran is more than happy to provide them with advanced missiles, so the question seems to be, which will they choose to use and will they be willing to use them against Israel?

casus  belli: an event or action that justifies or allegedly justifies a war or conflict

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/casus%20belli

 

The fact that the nation of Israel is surrounded by enemies who desire nothing more than to see their destruction is certainly not news to anyone even slightly informed about the world we live in today.  This situation, obviously, then begs the question; “what are they waiting for”?  It can be fairly said that Israel has made the attempt to live in peace with its enemies since the birth of the nation in 1948, fighting wars only to defend itself rather than being the aggressor. Yet, since God in His foreknowledge has told us that there are wars yet to be fought, it is logical to wonder what exactly is going to occur that provokes Israel’s enemies to attack once again. Now while some might argue that the nation of Syria has too many problems of its own to attempt to respond to Israel’s actions, I would say we need to consider another term from history which would seem, in light of recent events, to be extremely relevant, and that is “proxy war”.

 

proxy war: A war instigated by a major power which does not itself become involved.

https://www.lexico.com/definition/proxy_war

 

The relationship between Iran and Syria is complicated, but the one thing that remains clear is that Iran has invested a lot of money, materiel, and personnel to develop and upgrade Syria’s military capabilities. Much of Syria’s missile technology and armament has been provided by Iran, and at present it is reported as fact by many intelligence sources that members of the Iranian Republican Guard are in Syria helping develop and train Syrian troops. Iran has spent much of its time in the past few years attempting to establish bases of operation within the borders of Syria, while Israel has made a habit of blowing them up. Most of all, Iran has so far committed itself to support the president of Syria, Bashar Assad, in power. So the question must be asked, just what does Iran want from Syria in exchange for all of this help?

 

The fact that the Isaiah 17 prophecy tells us that the city of Damascus is destroyed, rather than Tehran, obviously supports the conclusion that Israel is attacked either from Syria, or by weapons transported through Damascus to Israel’s enemies. While that is the case, one has to wonder, considering the situation there, who is really behind the attack on Israel?  While the attack could easily be staged by Hezbollah, most at this point in time would agree that Iran is the country behind all that is going on in that region, and their hatred for Israel is well known.  I believe, and many agree, that at this point in time Iran is simply waiting for a justifiable excuse to attack Israel and attempt to make good on the myriad of threats it has made in the past. Only time will tell if this is what Isaiah is telling us, but what we do know is that God has prophesied that Damascus “will cease from being a city.”  

I recently read an article which stated that some prophecy teachers believe the possibility exists that Isaiah 17 was already fulfilled in the past.  While their reasoning may be sound in it’s scholarship, this is one of those times where I will borrow a saying by Chuck Missler regarding a disagreement he had with Hal Lindsey and say I will “agree to disagree agreeably” with their conclusions.  I certainly would say that I might be wrong in my conclusion but if the identification of the location of Aroer is correct, I believe it throws a wrench into holding the position that this conflict has already occurred.

 

When examining current events, most if not all prophecy scholars agree that the obvious conclusion is while the possibility of the events of Isaiah 17 as well as Ezekiel 38,39 seem to be clearly on the immediate horizon, so too is the rapture of the Church.   The coming weeks and months appear to hold the potential to be very exciting times indeed for those who study prophecy.

If you are reading this today and have never made the choice to accept the free gift of salvation made possible by the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, I want to encourage you to do it today.  Simply pray a prayer like this;

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins.  I want to turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen." 

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