Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘end times prophecy’

Great Article on where we find ourselves… (This weeks Nearing Midnight commentary from RaptureReady.com)

Maranatha Lord, come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

Nov 19, 2012

Is Obama the Antichrist?

The stunning reelection of President Obama has caused several of us in the field of Bible prophecy to question the possibility of him being the Antichrist. I still look for a leader to come out of the area that was once part of the Roman Empire. Since we don’t have a clear vision of the ten-horned confederation that will elect the Beast, it would be unwise to slam the door on any non-European leader.

I did a search on “Is Obama the Antichrist?” and found very little current information on this subject. One search pointed right back to Rapture Ready. So, I guess I need to provide my own answer the question.

There was once a time when you couldn’t be called a world leader unless there was some group identifying you as the Antichrist. Lately, pin the tail on the AC has become a dying art. Back in the nineties, every prophecy conference that I would visit had someone labeling a political leader as the AC. I remember attending an afternoon session at a God’s News Behind the News conference where four speakers in a row tagged Bill Clinton as the Beast.

Today, we’ve gone in the opposite direction. I was recently at a prophecy conference where Barack Obama’s name never came up once. (more…)

Read Full Post »

This is a MUST SEE video.

…JD does a great job walking us through the steps of grieving and getting us back on the narrow path with our eyes fixed on God’s will and not our own desires.

I know this is the reminder I needed.

Maranatha Lord, come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

Amazing message.

Over the last few months the verse “Not of this world but living in this world…” has been running through my head constantly.  It has been somewhat may mantra these days and a reminder of my (our) calling.

John 15:19
If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Maranatha Lord, come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

We had a clear choice this year via our US national election.  I don’t think I have seen an election in my lifetime that the contrast was stronger.  Our stunning choice should be a wake up call to just where we are on the prophetic timeline.  Jesus warned us what the time period before his coming would look like.

Luke 17:26-30 (NKJV)

26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

As I sat there listening to the results roll in, I felt scripture wash over me flooding my mind.  It was surreal.  It allowed me to zoom out and see the big picture, what had we as a nation just done.  There is more links between what is happening now and end times prophecy than I can list here.  Lets compare the scripture above to what we just voted in favor of as a nation.

We voted for abortion on demand, the killing of millions of children in their mother’s womb.  This is much like the evil cults of Noah’s and Lot’s time that would sacrifice their own children, yearly, to their “gods”. We are sacrificing our unborn for a lustful lifestyle (much like these ancient cults) and unburdened existence.  “We wouldn’t want our daughter to be burdened with a baby.”

We voted for free contraceptives and recreational marijuana use.  Basically promoting drug use and free sex for all, especially our youth.  We know that both Noah’s and Lot’s days were marked by extreme promiscuity and drug use.  The men that showed up outside Lot’s door wanted to have sex with the “new” men in town.

We voted for a strong homosexual agenda with our commander-in-chief, for the first time in history, opening supporting this sinful lifestyle.  This was something that marked both the days of Lot and Noah, with the latter being the only time in history (except for present day) that homosexual marriage was legal.

Pause a moment and let that sink in…

…the men outside Lot’s house also wanted to partake in these sinful acts as well.

We voted again for the least transparent administration we have ever had.  Deceptive to the core.  One that has blatantly lied to the American people and committed acts of treason on several occasions.  What was their reaction when caught?  They laughed it off and we as a nation laughed along with them and moved on.  Treason!, not the definition of “is” but treason.  Not only has there been a lack of transparency but the reverse, active deception, has been immense.

We voted for a man of lawlessness, that disregards our current laws of bankruptcy to give unions funds and leaves stock holders empty-handed.  He has demolished our home loan laws by forcing forgiveness of loans and leaving investors, again, empty-handed.  He has ignored our constitution at every possible turn.  The highest law of the land and the foundation we built this nation on.

We voted for a man who says one thing and does the exact opposite, time and time again, with nothing said about it.

We voted for the political party that voted to remove God from their platform three times!

They said NO to God three times!

Folks, step back and see the forest.

We are living in the days of Noah.

We are living in the days of Lot.

This was a huge sign for those that have their eyes open.  And now things are accelerating, roadblocks have been removed.

It was said that “the church” must take a stand this election cycle to reclaim our nation, founded on God and His word.

Look that the result.  We could not have had a clearer choice, two roads we could take, and which choice did our nation make?  The road of Sodom.  The road of Gomorrah.  The road of depravity, anger, and hate.  The road away from God.

No true born-again Christian could vote for this abomination and the path they are taking us down.

This was huge folks.  We just passed the last exit.  The harbingers have spoken.  The protection of the Lord has been removed.  We have not turned back to God in repentance, but have instead, stood in defiance of God and with the arrogance of man said “we don’t need God in our nation”.

We are hurling toward the tribulation, God’s judgement on this sinful world.  For those of us that are awake, we must keep our eye fixed squarely at all times on Christ Jesus, our redeemer.  Do not look back, do not look down, for the evil of this world is engulfing us.  Time is…  I almost said “Time is short.” but that does not express how close we are to Jesus Christ’s return for His bride.

The divided nation we see is biblical.  It is the hardening of hearts and the strong delusion of the Lord.

Ephesians 4:17-19 (NIV1984)

Living as Children of Light

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NKJV)

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Every man and woman have made their choice, look at where we stand.  Which path do you stand on?  What a stark contrast we are.  Good and Evil.  But today evil is said to be good and good said to be evil.

Isaiah 5:20-24

New King James Version (NKJV)

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!

22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,
Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,
23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe,
And take away justice from the righteous man!

24 Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble,
And the flame consumes the chaff,
So their root will be as rottenness,
And their blossom will ascend like dust;
Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts,
And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

We must put 100% of our hope and faith in Jesus Christ, and no longer in our own actions or those of man, not even 1%.  We must focus on the will of God and not on our own.  Pray, and look up and lift up your head for your redemption draws near.

Luke 21:28 (NKJV)

28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Maranatha, Lord come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

Great message from Grant, as I ponder his words, I can definitely see a pattern in my life.  As I drift in and out of my fellowship with the Lord, due to distractions and/or sin, I am always unsatisfied until I realize what I am truly missing.  How dense are we as man, that we keep making the same mistakes over and over.  What patience the Lord must have with us.

Maranatha, Lord Jesus come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

Are You Satisfied?

By Grant Phillips


Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man.” (Proverbs 27:20 NIV)

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10 NIV)

Are you satisfied with your life? Thousands upon multiplied thousands of people today are not satisfied with their lives. Some are restless. Some are in abject turmoil.

Proverbs 27:20 above tells us that death is never satisfied. The open grave will always yearn for more. Even though about 140.4 million people are born each year, 56.7 million die each year (2010 statistics).

The same verse speaks of destruction, and destruction comes in many forms. War brings destruction. A wandering eye brings destruction to a family. Greed and murder bring destruction, and we could go on. Destruction is all around us, as is death. So too, destruction is never satisfied.

Where does all this originate? It comes from the human heart, for the heart of man, apart from Jesus Christ, is never satisfied.

Adam and Eve were not satisfied to have everything the Garden of Eden had to offer, but decided to disobey God and eat of the one lone tree He specifically told them to not eat from. Sin blanketed the world as a result.

Judas Iscariot was not satisfied to enjoy the fellowship of God, in the flesh, but preferred power and wealth instead. Suicidal death was his reward.

From the Garden of Eden to today, mankind has never been satisfied. He always wants more, even at the expense of others. Why can’t we be satisfied? Why do we always want more and more?

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

This insatiable desire comes from a wicked heart, a heart that does not know God. The heart without God is an empty hole that longs to be filled, but only God can fill the vacuum that exists.

Some will come to God through His Son Jesus and find rest, while most will continue their vain attempts to fill the vacuum and satisfy the wicked heart. However, it is never filled. It is never satisfied. It keeps longing for more, and each demand gets greater with time.

The Lord had the Apostle Paul write the following words to his protégé Timothy:

1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV)

Are we in the last days? Yes we are, the last days of the Church Age, and the heart of man isn’t getting any better. It’s getting worse.

Think about this.

When Hollywood first produced movies depicting murder, there were no “blood and guts” scenes, but in order to continue drawing the crowds, the scenes had to become more and more real. Today murder has left the silver screen and found its way into the neighborhoods of America, and they keep getting more gruesome. Why? The evil heart needs more to satisfy its desires.

The scary movies I watched as a child would be boring today. Yet, as a child, my heart would race as I watched them. Today, people are chopped up like lettuce for a salad, and the watchers crave more.

Sex used to be kept in the bedroom, a private issue between your parents. Now it’s taught in schools and practiced wherever the urge hits. Any sexual act imaginable can be found in not just sleazy dark places, but in your own living room. Yet the evil heart is not satisfied. It wants more.

Sexual acts of perversion are commonplace. Sex with animals, children, male/male, female/female, and even objects, they are all out in the open. And each depravity just becomes more shocking than the one before.

The most depraved acts one could imagine are committed on the streets of some of our large cities, and they keep getting worse.

There seems to be some kind of “law of nature” that says, “Each action must top the one before.”

Greed is like that too. The general attitude with most people is the more they have, the more they want. There is never enough money, or things. The evil heart always wants more. It is never satisfied.

An old saying goes like this, “Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile.” That is exactly where we are today, always hungry for more. “My house isn’t big enough, I need a bigger one. My neighbor got a new car. Mine is three years old. I need a new one. My clothes are not in style. I need to go shopping. So I have ten of these, I want that one too.”

As we have seen, a heart that is not satisfied will long for more. Some things will produce destruction while others may just produce clutter, but they all depict a heart that is restless for God. The very soul of man needs God to satisfy the hunger of his heart. The sad thing is, most just don’t recognize what their soul really needs to be at rest.

In Isaiah 61:10 above, it is clear that our delight should be in the Lord. Only this will make our soul rejoice, because then we are clothed in salvation and righteousness, both from the throne room of God.

Food tastes good, but its consumption is only temporary. Drugs only mask the real problem and create others.

I ask again. Are you satisfied with your life? Has someone flushed the toilet, and you’re in it? Are you going down for the last count?

Maybe things aren’t quite that bad in your life, but you’re just not happy. You’ve tried hobbies, read books and even smelled the roses, but something is missing.

Jesus Christ is what is missing. No human being on this earth will ever be at peace until they come to Jesus to be born again (John 3:3). Jesus will give you a new spirit that will be filled with His own Spirit. Only then can you say with David:

“…My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” (Psalms 62:1NIV)

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” (Psalms 116:7 NIV)

But you say, “I’m a Christian, but I don’t feel satisfied. What is wrong with me?” You need to come to your Savior and Lord and ask of God the same thing David asked Him.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalms 51:12 NIV)

Accept the council of John in this verse.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NIV)

Then follow David’s advice.

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.” (Psalms 119:7 NIV)

Grant Phillips

grantphillips@windstream.net

My articles are posted at “Pre-Rapture Commentary” http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com and many are also posted at “Rapture Ready” http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html.

Even though I am very limited on time, I will respond to any who email me and request a reply, unless I sense they just want to argue.

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

Great Study, can’t wait for part 2, hopefully next week…

_________________________________________________________________

The Gospel of the Kingdom Vs. The Gospel of Grace

by Jack Kelly


 

Part 1.  The Gospel Of The Kingdom

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matt. 3:1-2)

Prophecies of a Messianic King appear throughout the Old Testament and many in the Jewish leadership saw John’s arrival on the scene as their fulfillment.  They sent representatives to the place where John was baptizing to see if he was the promised Messiah. He said he wasn’t, but that the one they had been expecting was even then in their midst (John 1:19-28).

750 years earlier Isaiah had said when the Messiah came He would reign on David’s throne forever (Isaiah 9:6-7) but the throne of David had been vacant for 600 years.  John had come to tell them the time was finally at hand and they had better get ready for Him.

When Jesus began His ministry, John introduced Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:8) and publicly testified that Jesus was the Son of God (John 1:34).  Right from the beginning Jesus began teaching that the Kingdom of Heaven was near (Matt. 4:17), and sent His disciples through out the land to alert the people to this fact as well (Matt. 10:7-8).

But even with Isaiah’s prophecies, John’s testimony, and the Lord’s teaching, the Jewish leaders refused to accept that Jesus was the Messiah. They questioned His claims, His doctrine, and His miracles in spite of the fact that all were clearly foretold in their prophecies.

Isaiah had also said when He came the Messiah would have no beauty or majesty that would attract them to Him and that nothing about His appearance would make them desire Him (Isaiah 53:2). The fact that Jesus was not like they expected Him to be was a big problem for them.

Just before John was executed, He had sent a delegation of his disciples to confirm for themselves that Jesus was who He claimed to be.

In reply Jesus said, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” (Matt. 11:4-6)

Jesus fed the multitudes, walked on water, healed the sick and raised the dead and still they asked for a miraculous sign.  Finally in frustration He responded, “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt. 12:38-40). They would get their sign, but only after they had executed Him.

Later, just a few days before His execution, He warned them again.  “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit (Matt. 21:43). He was speaking of the coming Church.

(more…)

Read Full Post »

I think we all have felt this at some point throughout our week over the last year.

The feeling of being alone yet surrounded.  Great message…

Maranatha, Lord come quickly!

_________________________________________________________________

Surrounded Alone

By Deborah Jackson


The title in itself is an oxymoron. Yet, that appears to be the position of the Christian today.  Surrounded by a faceless world in this dark, unfamiliar tunnel we move one day closer to the glowing light on the other end.
“For now we see through a glass, darkly but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known”  (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Though it should be so, it seems there is no longer a driving desire to minister to the lost in expectation of a clueless reaction.  It is more of a fight to survive the race and press forward.  People are angry for no reason.  People are hurtful without cause. Doing the “right thing” has escaped even the elder generation, the one generation that you thought you could count on.
There are loud voices everywhere haunting you with their perspective version of how all things evil are acceptable and in the same attempt trying to somehow justify it. God is love? Yes, He is. But I am pretty sure that he is not a happy God.
The old theory was to look for the best in people.  However, today, we see more of the worst right up front and when you meet a genuine person you are pleasantly surprised.  Although somewhat overshadowed, this in no way means that we are not amongst a multitude of Christians in this world.
God has not changed. Genuine Christians have not wavered. Jesus is still coming back.

So where do we go from here? As believers we have nothing to fear: Our future is secure.  Every, thread of our existence is still right in the palm of His hand.  If God did not know what is going to happen tomorrow, how could we trust our God today?  Our lives are filled with what ifs and daily losing control of things that were once just, “routine.” Yet while we may be surrounded “alone,” our faith still holds.
”For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
All that remains for us is to daily ask Him, “What do you need me to do or where do you want me to go today?”  For every soul that the Spirit is calling to Christ, there is someone in their path with the convincing message of amazing grace and salvation.

 

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

What are we as a nation?  How low have our moral standards dropped?  When did we stop calling a lie, a lie?

When did evil become acceptable, especially if calling it evil may offend some group of people.

We are Sodom.  We are Gomorrah.  We are the last days of Rome.  These ARE the days of Noah.

Too harsh?

The proof is that there is no nationwide outrage at this atrocity.  Not down party lines but the Majority!

Every man women and child should be repulsed by the evil that was on display and then excused.  How could you not help?

How could we not do everything in our power to aid our fellow Americans?

Maranatha Lord Jesus come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

 

Read Full Post »

This is such a common question that I believe we have all struggled with at some point in time of our lives or if not yet will at some point.  The answer is so reassuring and strengthening of our faith.  Studying prophecy has a similar effect.  I wish more understood how powerful it is.  God laid out for us what will happen before it happened so we could strengthen our faith in Him and with assurance put our trust in Him.  He knew we would struggle like Thomas with doubts and would need some reassurance.  Prophecy is that reassurance and yet largely as a church, Christ’s Bride, we ignore it or worse scoff at God’s predictions that He put in place to reassure us of His power and authority.

Maranatha, Lord Jesus come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

Is God In Total Control Of Everything?

by Jack Kelly


There’s a theory, only hinted at in Scripture, that Planet Earth had been the domain of Satan prior to his rebellion. Although he was only a created being, Satan was an enormously powerful dignitary in God’s Universe (Jude 1:9). He was the overseer of the Cherubim (the guardians of God’s Throne) and a leader of the angelic host. He was God’s most impressive creation (Ezekiel 28:12-15). Because of his position, his power, and his beauty he became proud and rebelled (Ezekiel 28:17, Isaiah 14:13-14), bringing about a judgment that destroyed planet Earth.

All this seems to have happened between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. Hints of this in Scripture are

1) an alternate (and some say more literal) rendering of Genesis 1:2 reads, “But the Earth became formless and void”, rather than “and the Earth was formless and void.”

2) In Isaiah 45:18 the Lord said He didn’t create the Earth that way, using the same Hebrew word that’s translated formless in Genesis 1:2, but formed it to be inhabited. Putting these two points together hints at a judgment sometime after Earth’s original creation.

3) The angels already existed at the time of the Genesis creation account. They shouted and sang for joy when the Lord laid the foundations of Earth (Job 38:4-7) so they must have been created earlier. If so, then Satan must have been created earlier was as well.

4) The serpent seems to appear out of nowhere in Genesis 3:1 although there’s no mention of him in the creation account. Also the Hebrew word translated serpent comes from a root meaning enchanter, which could mean it was not an ordinary animal. And Eve didn’t seem to be reluctant to converse with him, indicating she might have recognized him for who he really was.

Let me hasten to add that I don’t believe in a pre-Adamite civilization. The Bible clearly calls Adam the first man (1 Cor. 15:45). It also says the animals were created on the same day as Adam (Genesis 1:24-26) so I don’t believe dinosaurs or any other animals preceded Adam’s creation.

After Earth sat submerged in ruin and darkness for who knows how long, God said “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3) and the six day Genesis creation process began. It helps to remember that the Bible is not a book about eternity, it’s about the age of man. As such it begins with the creation of the first man and ends when the Millennium ends seven thousand years later. It gives only vague hints about what happened before the Age of Man began and what will come after it ends. All we really know is that there was an eternity past and there will be an eternity future.

God’s first instruction to Adam and Eve was to give them dominion over Planet Earth, telling them to subdue it and populate it (more…)

Read Full Post »

Martin was right.  There are others out there struggling with these passages and the flesh – My will vs. the Lord’s will.  I for one struggle with this daily, this is a great article and worth the read and contemplation through prayer.   It will bring an immediate, Amen, from those that do struggle with it daily and for those of you that don’t my question is why aren’t you.  Hopefully, it is because you have cracked the code on death of self and are doing the Lord’s will freely in your life, but if that is not the case, may this article plant the seed in your mind that the Holy Spirit can make grow…

Maranatha Lord, come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

“What Time Is It?”

By Martin Irish


“A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited,  ‘Come, for all things are now ready. ‘But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’

And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’

And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’” ─Luke 14:16-24 NKJV

There is a problem I have been struggling with and since the Bible says that there is no temptation that we have experienced except that which is common to man (1 Corinthians 10:13), then I think it is a safe bet to say that there are others who struggle with it too. The struggle that I am talking about has to do with the inner fight to lay down our own desires, hopes, and dreams; and to deny ourselves, pick up our cross daily, and follow Jesus.

Let’s be honest for a minute, and just admit that it is not an easy thing to die to self. The Bible says in Romans chapter twelve that we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God, but someone once said that the problem with living sacrifices is that they tend to crawl off the altar. Humorous as that may be, it is also a true and sobering fact that we must continually offer up our lives and be diligent to remain in a state of submission to our sovereign Lord on a daily basis. Let me see if I can bring this closer to home and illustrate it from my own life.

In January of 2011, I met this beautiful, spirited, and loving lady whom I fell in love with and she with me. Between the time that we met and were married, I started to have the Scripture verse above run through my head, or more accurately just a portion of it. The part that kept coming to mind was, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” But what it was going through my head about differed from the words of Jesus; for I did not seem to be declining to come to the Master’s banquet, but rather I was making an excuse as to why I could not obey His command to labor in His field for harvest time.

(more…)

Read Full Post »

I am re-posting this article from a while back.  It is one of my favorite articles that Jack Kelly has done.

With time drawing short, it is critical we understand Jesus’ words and which path we find ourselves on.

Maranatha Lord, come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

Two Roads, Two Gates, One Goal

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matt. 7:13-14)

This passage is often quoted in reference to the different roads traveled by unbelievers as opposed to believers.  Unbelievers are said to be on a broad road with many fellow travelers, all on the way to their destruction.  Believers on the other hand are a small segment of humanity and are on a narrow road to salvation.  This difference is further defined by some as pertaining to our behavior.  The unbeliever’s gate is wide and his road is broad, supposedly indicating that there’s room for all kinds of sinful behavior, while for the believer it’s a small gate and a narrow road suggesting that there’s very little latitude for misbehaving.  A careless step or two and you may find yourself being rerouted onto the broad road.

If you look at these 2 verses alone it’s easy to understand why so many see them this way.  But in the context of the chapter a different picture emerges.

In Matthew 7 the people in focus all claim to be believers, and the emphasis is on their fruit.  The Lord began by admonishing us against judging others,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matt. 7:1-2)

(more…)

Read Full Post »

I came across this list of 25 prophecies that have been or are being fulfilled today.  I found it in a great book called “Queen of All” by Jim Tetlow.  I have been researching the Marion apparitions and their link to end times prophecy.

Toward the beginning of the book the author uses the 25 prophecies below to prove we can trust what the Bible says literally.  It really was an amazing list of which none were new to me but the list was so well laid out and in a concise format that I wanted to share it.

The Bible, God’s word, predicted these events and thousands of others over 2000 years ago.  Not one prophecy from the Bible has ever been wrong.  100% accurate and correct, I can’t think of many things these days that have a batting average of perfection, we all stumble at some point.  Only God is perfect as is His word, inerrant.  You can trust Him and His word till the end of this age of man.

Note: I added in the text of the referenced Bible verses for each prophecy that show the prophecy clearly as well as some additional comments.

I hope this strengthens your faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His word!

Maranatha, Lord come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

1. False Bible teachers would be money hungry.  They would be smooth talkers, have many followers and slur the Christian faith (2 Peter 2:1-3).

2 Peter 2:1-3 – (NKJV) – Destructive Doctrines – 2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does[a] not slumber.

A growing number of TV evangelists epitomize this as well as many in the ecumenical movement.

——————–

2. Mankind would be capable of destroying all life (Matthew 24:21-22).

Matthew 24:21-22 – (NKJV) – 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Consider that when Jesus made this prediction the armaments of His day were swords and spears.  But today, with nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, it is possible to wipe out all flesh on planet earth.

——————–

3. The use of nuclear weapons anticipated (Zechariah 14:12).

Zechariah 14:12 – (NKJV) – 12 And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem:

Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet,
Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets,
And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.

The neutron bomb melts (dissolves) its victims – just as Zechariah predicted 2,500 years ago.  This was unimaginable in Zechariah’s day.

——————–

4. There would be a global cry for peace (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

1 Thessalonians 5:3 – (NKJV) – For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

Never has there been such a concerted, global effort to bring about peace at any cost as there is in our day.

——————–

5. Global communication foreseen (Revelation 11:9-10;17:8).

Revelation 11:9-10 -(NKJV) – Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

Revelation 17:8 – (NKJV) – The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

The Bible prophesies that the entire world will “see” certain events unfold.  The invention of the television and the deployment of global satellite networks during the 20th century allow news to travel the world at the speed of light for the first time ever.  Yet in John’s day, news traveled at the speed of horseback.

——————–

6. The Christian gospel would be preached as a witness to all nations (Matthew 24:14, Mark 13:10; Revelation 14:6).

Matthew 24:14 – (NKJV) –14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Mark 13:10 – (NKJV) – 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

Revelation 14:6 – (NKJV) – The Proclamations of Three Angels – Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—

Today, portions or all of the Bible have been translated into over 2,300 languages and dialects covering well over 90% of the world’s population.

——————–

7. The possession of Jerusalem would be at the center of international turmoil (Zechariah 12:3).

Zechariah 12:3 – (NKJV) – And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

Almost daily the world news reports on the conflict over Jerusalem.

——————–

8. The fact that God once flooded the earth (the Noahic Flood) would be denied (2 Peter 3:5-6).

2 Peter 3:5-6 – (NKJV) – 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.

There is a mass of fossil evidence to prove this fact, yet it is flatly ignored by most of the scientific world because  it was judgment form God on man’s wickedness.

——————–

9. Russia (Magog) would rise as a military power in the last days (Ezekiel 38).

Ezekiel 38:1-6 – (NKJV) – Gog and Allies Attack Israel – 38 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.

——————–

10. The nation of Israel would be born in one day (Isaiah 66:8).

Isaiah 66:8 – (NKJV)

Who has heard such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?
Or shall a nation be born at once?
For as soon as Zion was in labor,
She gave birth to her children.

On May 14, 1948 Israel became a nation.  Never in recorded history has a nation been dispersed for hundreds of years and then regathered.  Yet, God said it and God has done it before our very eyes!

——————–

11. The Jews would begin to regather in Israel (Jeremiah 31:7-10; Ezekiel 37:21-22; 38:8).

Jeremiah 31:7-10 – (NKJV)

For thus says the Lord:

“Sing with gladness for Jacob,
And shout among the chief of the nations;
Proclaim, give praise, and say,
‘O Lord, save Your people,
The remnant of Israel!’
Behold, I will bring them from the north country,
And gather them from the ends of the earth,
Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child
And the one who labors with child, together;
A great throng shall return there.
They shall come with weeping,
And with supplications I will lead them.
I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters,
In a straight way in which they shall not stumble;
For I am a Father to Israel,
And Ephraim is My firstborn.

10 “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
And declare it in the isles afar off, and say,
‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’

Ezekiel 37:21-22 – (NKJV)

21 “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.

Ezekiel 38:8 – (NKJV)

After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.

Over five million Jews have returned to Israel in recent times!  This unlikely prophecy alone is unmistakable evidence of the Scriptures’ Divine inspiration.

——————–

12. The Jews would regain control of biblical Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:6; Luke 21:24).

Zechariah 12:6 – (NKJV)

In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem.

Luke 21:24 – (NKJV)

24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

This happened in 1967!  As a result of the 6 day war.

——————–

13. Asia (the kings of the east) would be capable of deploying a 200-million-man army during earth’s final days (Revelation 9:14-16; 16:12).

Revelation 9:14-16 – (NKJV)

14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.

Revelation 16:12 – (NKJV) – Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up

12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.

Bear in mind, when John penned this prophecy 2,000 years ago, there were only an estimated 170-400 million people on the entire planet.  Yet today, according to the CIA, China alone has 281 million men fit for military service!

——————–

14. Egypt would exist in the last days – but only as a lowly third world nation (Ezekiel 29:14-16).

Ezekiel 29:14-16 – (NKJV)

14 I will bring back the captives of Egypt and cause them to return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom. 15 It shall be the lowliest of kingdoms; it shall never again exalt itself above the nations, for I will diminish them so that they will not rule over the nations anymore. 16 No longer shall it be the confidence of the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity when they turned to follow them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God.”’”

Egypt was on of the world’s greatest ancient civilizations.  Yet today, as prophesied, Egypt remains, but only as an impoverished nation.  To show how amazing this prophecy is, compare modern Egypt to the tiny nation of Austria.  Egypt has ten times more land area, and a population eight times greater than Austria.  Yet, Egypt’s Grow Domestic Product is only one-fifth of Austria’s GDP.

——————–

15. Your would become increasingly rebellious (2 Timothy 3:2-3; Mark 13:12; Isaiah 3:4-5, 12)

2 Timothy 3:2-3 – (NKJV) – For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,

Mark 13:12 – (NKJV) – 12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

Isaiah 3:4-5 – (NKJV)

“I will give children to be their princes,
And babes shall rule over them.
The people will be oppressed,
Every one by another and every one by his neighbor;
The child will be insolent toward the elder,
And the base toward the honorable.”

Isaiah 3:12 – (NKJV)

12 As for My people, children are their oppressors,
And women rule over them.
O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err,
And destroy the way of your paths.”

No comment necessary.

——————–

16. Homosexuality would be flaunted at the end of the age.  Jesus warned that the last days would be like the days of Lot – who lived in wicket Sodom (Luke 17:28-30).

Luke 17:28-30 – (NKJV) – 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

We know that the root of Sodom’s sin was pride and complacency (Ezekiel 16:49) – as it is today.

Ezekiel 16:49 – (NKJV) – 49 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

However, Sodom’s lasting infamy stemmed from their aggressive homosexual sin (Genesis 19; Jude 1:7).

Genesis 19:4-9 – (NKJV)

Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”

So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.”

And they said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door.

Jude 1:7 – (NKJV)

as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Today the homosexual agenda is flaunted and forced upon our entire society.

——————–

17. Epidemic drug use predicted (Revelation 9:21).

Revelation 9:21 – (NKJV)

21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries[a] or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Footnotes: a.Revelation 9:21 NU-Text and M-Text read drugs.

The Greek word translated sorceries is pharmakeia which can also refer to drug use, both illegal drugs and mind-altering drugs.  The use of illegal drugs and the dispensing of mind-altering drugs has risen sharply during our current generations.

——————–

18. Sorceries – referring to witchcraft, magic, or occult practices used to enchant and deceive – are also anticipated in the last days (Revelation 9:21; 18:23; Isaiah 47:9-15; Micah 5:10-15).

Micah 5:10-15 – (NKJV)

10 “And it shall be in that day,” says the Lord,
“That I will cut off your horses from your midst
And destroy your chariots.
11 I will cut off the cities of your land
And throw down all your strongholds.
12 I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
And you shall have no soothsayers.
13 Your carved images I will also cut off,
And your sacred pillars from your midst;
You shall no more worship the work of your hands;
14 I will pluck your wooden images from your midst;
Thus I will destroy your cities.
15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury
On the nations that have not heard.”

Today, interest in the occult is flourishing.

——————–

19. Financial systems would depend on numbers not cash (Revelation 13:17-18).

Revelation 13:17-18 – (NKJV)

17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Remember, this prophecy was made 2,000 years before our computer-driven society.

——————–

20. Many would call themselves the Christ (Matthew 24:5).

Matthew 24:5 –  (NKJV)

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

Jesus was an itinerate preacher who never traveled outside the tiny nation of Israel and He had the audacity to say that many would come in His name, claiming to be the Christ.  And yet today, as foretold, multitudes within the New Age Movement, Eastern religions, and the cults call themselves the Christ.

——————–

21. The final generation would be open to receiving a mark on their right hand or on their forehead (Revelation 13:16).

Revelation 13:16 – (NKJV)

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,

Consider how the up and coming generation is tattooed, pierced and marked with all kinds of insignia.

——————–

22. People would reject the sound doctrine of the Word of God and follow the doctrines of men that appeal to their own lusts (2 Timothy 4:3-4; Acts 20:29-30).

2 Timothy 4:3-4 – (NKJV)

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Acts 20:29-30 – (NKJV)

29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

Jesus also predicted that there would be many hypocrites within the church (Matthew 24:48-51; Matthew 7:22-23).

Matthew 24:48-51 – (NKJV)

48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 7:22-23 – (NKJV)

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

——————–

23. Blasphemy would be common (2 Timothy 3:2; Revelation 16:9, 11, 21).

2 Timothy 3:2 – (NKJV) – For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Revelation 16:9 – (NKJV) – And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

Revelation 16:11 – (NKJV) – 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

Revelation 16:21 – (NKJV) – 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

Consider how often people use their Creator’s name (God, Lord, or Jesus Christ) as a curse word.  Fifty years ago, Hollywood seldom used God’s name in vain.  Today, nearly every movie contains blasphemy.

——————–

24. Sexual immorality would be rampant (Jude 1:18; Revelation 9:21).

Jude 1:18 – (NKJV) – 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.

Keep in mind, Jesus said whoever looks to lust has already committed adultery in his heart (Matthew 5:28).

Matthew 5:28 – (NKJV) – 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Today lust is marketed in every conceivable venue.

——————–

25. Men would mock the warning signs of the end of the age saying that these signs have always been around (2 Peter 3:3-4).

2 Peter 3:3-4 – (NKJV) – knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

The Bible even reveals their motivation, they love lust.

_________________________________________________________________

If you haven’t  accepted the gift of Salvation:

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

Glamour…  some may say strong delusion.

How else can we explain how many people believe the lies that are being spread daily.  It is stunning.

But we shouldn’t be stunned, God said it would be this way during the last days, it is one of the signs we are to look for.

Maranatha Lord, come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

…at least half of us.

It is just stunning to me how out of touch we have become as a people.  We have so many distractions these days that we don’t pay attention to real current events, let alone put them all together and take the time to step back and look at the big picture.

That is what prophecy is.  It is a puzzle left for us by God.  If we study His word as he commanded us to, we will not be caught like a thief in the night.  Events and outcomes of certain actions will not surprise us.  We understand the bigger picture and how the puzzle is coming together generally.  We were meant to study prophecy.

If these folks don’t even know this major event has taken place, how can we imagine they can assemble the prophecy puzzle God has left for us in his word.  How do we get them to wake up?

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

An insane amount of prophecy headlines this last week.  A lot of them are being overshadowed even by the new media with the US election nearing.  Make sure you check these out, we have a ton of activity going on with regard to prophecy.

_________________________________________________________________

Putin’s New ‘Fortress Russia’
Moscow is cozying up to China, supporting the Assad regime in Syria and ignoring the Iranian nuclear race. The Kremlin is hard at work to create a sphere of influence along its periphery and a “pole” in the multipolar world that would stand up to Washington.-Putin is implementing a “Fortress Russia” policy, which is based on repression at home and confrontation abroad. It is used to justify a $700 billion military buildup.

A place for Jews on the Temple Mount
The state of affairs on the Temple Mount is intolerable and untenable.-A way must be found to enable Jews to exercise their right to commune with their Maker, without further stoking hatred and intolerance. In fact, there is a simple and very practical solution to this predicament: build a synagogue on the Temple Mount where Jews would be free to pray as they wish.

“#UnBonJuif”: Twitter deluged with French antisemitism
Jewish and anti-racist organisations in France have threatened to sue dozens of Twitter users for posting antisemitic jokes and statements on the site using the hashtag #UnBonJuif (“a good Jew”). Many tweets mocked the Holocaust, said “a good Jew is a dead Jew” or contained other racist statements which are illegal under French law.-Antisemitic violence has grown in France by 45 per cent in the first eight months of 2012.

Small earthquake rattles western Nebraska
The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 3.6 earthquake happened at 11:21 p.m. Wednesday. It was centered about 18 miles northwest of Hyannis (heye-AN’-us). Grant County Sheriff Shawn Hebbert told The Omaha-World Herald (http://bit.ly/Rbu3zF ) that some people felt the quake, saying it woke them up. The sheriff says he didn’t feel a thing.

East China Sea tension: China conducts naval exercises
China is conducting naval exercises in the East China Sea, state media report, amid heightened tensions with Japan over islands both claim. The exercises are aimed at “sharpening response to emergencies in missions to safeguard territorial sovereignty”, state-run Xinhua news agency said. They involve 11 ships and eight aircraft, including vessels from marine surveillance and fisheries agencies.

EU leaders agree to one banking overseer
EU leaders agreed to create a single banking overseer for the eurozone that could aid ailing banks, but Germany and Britain balked at some details. The 27 EU heads of state and government agreed “on a political framework for the end of 2012 and a gradual implementation in 2013” of a new EU single supervisory mechanism, European Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly said after the first day of a two-day EU leaders’ summit on resolving the eurozone debt crisis. The commission is the EU’s executive body.

Moderate earthquake rattles Egypt, felt in Israel
5.0-magnitude quake comes two days ahead of Israel’s large-scale preparedness drill..

Assad launches new wave of air raids, pounding key Syrian town
Syrian regime warplanes launched a new wave of strikes Thursday on the northwestern town of Maaret al-Numan, seized by rebels last week, an AFP correspondent reported. Fighter jets began overflying and bombarding Maaret al-Numan, located on the main Damascus-Aleppo highway, in the early hours of the morning, targeting the strategic town and its periphery.

More Believe In Space Aliens Than In God According To U.K. Survey
More than 33 million U.K. citizens believe in extraterrestrial life, compared to just over 27 million — less than half the country — who believe in God. That’s the result of an online survey of 1,359 adults who were asked a variety of questions ranging from belief in alien visits to Earth, suspicions of UFO cover-ups, belief in extraterrestrials vs. belief in God, and whether or not men actually landed on the moon.

Gallup study: Only 3.4 percent of US adults are LGBT
A new Gallup survey, touted as the largest of its kind, estimates that 3.4 percent of American adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The findings, released Thursday, were based on interviews with more than 121,000 people. Gallup said it is the largest study ever aimed at calculating the nation’s LGBT population.

(more…)

Read Full Post »

Jack Kelly lays out a great comparison below of who the Tribulation is for.  I really like his concise explanation of the different audiences that are present in the Bible.  The majority of confusion surrounding prophecy comes when you do not take the time to put the scripture in context but also identify who the audience is that Jesus and/or God is speaking too.

It is the purpose of the tribulation that always kept coming up when I first started studying prophecy many years ago.  Some of the interpretations just didn’t make sense as to why it was needed.  Christ’s act of grace on the cross is all that we need, as the church, for salvation.  It allowed God to forgive us of our all of our sins: past, present, and future.

Just think about that for a moment…

How powerful is that?  He forgave through one-act of selflessness, all our past sins and our present sins, but also all of our future sins.  We are redeemed!  That to me is just mind-blowing.  He knows our heart and our actions before we even do them.  He knows we will struggle with sin while we are still in this world, but through Christ we have overcome!

Maranatha Lord, come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

The Tribulation’s Purpose Vs. The Church’s Nature

by Jack Kelly


Therefore keep watch because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matt. 25:13)

Those who shy away from the study of prophecy are fond of quoting the above verse as their justification.  But earlier in the same passage, the Lord had admonished all who read His words of prophecy to understand them (Matt 24:15).  In addition the Apostle Paul wrote that the events leading up to the end of the age should not take believers by surprise (1 Thes. 5:4) implying that we should be familiar with them.

Since the Bible cannot contradict itself, Matt. 24:15 must have been aimed at a different audience than Matt. 25:13.  And sure enough, a closer look reveals that both the implied timing and the intended audience of the two Matthew passages are different.  Matt. 24:15  was intended for everyone who would ever read the passage, but in Matt 25:13 the Lord was only speaking to people remaining on Earth at His Second Coming.  We know this because it follows Matt. 24:30 which describes the 2nd Coming.  Matt. 24:36-37 confirms the context to be the 2nd Coming, as does Matt. 25:1.  Of course in 1 Thes 5:4 Paul was addressing the church, who will not be on Earth at the 2nd Coming, but in the presence of the Father (1 Thes. 3:13).

What both the Lord (Matt.24:15) and Paul (1 Thes. 5:4) were saying is that while we won’t know the exact timing of things, we should understand the sequence of events leading up to the Day of the Lord. And perhaps no event in the sequence is more controversial than the Rapture of the Church, especially as it relates to the Great Tribulation.

It seems to me that the first thing we should do in trying to obey the Lord’s commandment to understand all this is to clarify two things, 1) the purpose of the Great Tribulation, 2) the nature of the Church.

The Purpose of the Great Tribulation

The phrase Great Tribulation makes reference to a specific event, not a general condition. While the Lord warned the disciples (more…)

Read Full Post »

Pete goes through a lot of the prophecies we are seeing the stage set for.  The headlines he lists are also reflecting the times we live in.  It is a great read, sobering for the saved, and scary to those unsaved.  It might also be a bit jarring for those that don’t believe in the pre-trib rapture.  His last few paragraphs really jumped out at me and rang true, the end is near.

Maranatha – Come Quickly Lord Jesus!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

Something Big is Going On – Part 3

By Pete Rose


In the past two articles in this series I have focused mainly on current events such as …

  • Unexplained movements of troops and military equipment
  • Massive ammunition purchases – 1.7 Billion rounds plus – by government agencies, most of it for the Department of Homeland Security
  • The NDAA authorizing indefinite detention of US citizens just on suspicion, no hearing, no trial, no due process
  • Obama issuing one executive order after another seizing control of practically all the nation’s resources, infrastructure, food production, transportation, communication
  • And more…

Some recent developments – from Web reports

  • *Coastal military bases being evacuated over back roads under cover of darkness, cover story is expectation of massive coastal flooding
  • Obama-appointed court overturns permanent injunction on NDAA indefinite detention clause (Yes, all three judges on this court were appointed by Obama)
  • *Obama makes deal with Iran, they will announce a stop to uranium enrichment in return for relaxing of sanctions before the election
  • Huge sinkhole in Louisiana continues to grow, officials worry about huge reserves of liquid butane, propane stored in nearby salt domes amid concern the domes may be tied in with the New Madrid fault
  • Gulf stream has stopped, BP oil spill blamed, will have drastic effects on weather (this dates back to 1910)
  • *Staged bank collapse supposed to take place in late October, all banks will close, credit cards, debit cards, food cards will not work, checks unusable, all money in the banks will be frozen
  • And now, HR6566, a bill directing FEMA to prepare for the possibility of mass fatalities!

*I have no confirmation for these… I’m just putting them out for whatever they’re worth.

In this article I want to focus on prophecies pointing to these events. I have bolded all scriptures and references for ease of locating them.

Bible prophecy in all cases may be taken at face value. These are inspired by the Holy Spirit and can be depended on. Non-biblical prophecies must be judged as to source and accuracy. There are a lot of the latter around today, so be careful what you believe. If you have conflicting prophecies concerning the same event, one or the other has to be false, and both may be. These prophets must be judged based on their past record of accuracy and the witness of the Holy Spirit. If someone makes a specific prophecy and the prophesied event doesn’t happen as prophesied, this person likely prophesied out of his own heart and not by the Holy Spirit, and is not to be believed.

That said, let’s take a look at some Bible prophecies. There are many, many prophecies concerning the end times, so many I will not have room to cover all of them here. But I will try to hit the most important ones.

A quick overview

There is a wealth of prophecy about end time events and conditions in Matthew 24 and Luke 17, and the book of The Revelation focuses almost entirely on end time events. 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 3 provide information on the rapture. 2 Thessalonians 2 warns of the fate of those who are left behind, and gives some clues about the timing of the rapture.

The book of Daniel contains several prophecies concerning the end-times. Some believe Psalm 83 prophesies an end-time attack of nations immediately surrounding Israel, some say it is already fulfilled. It could be both are true, some prophecies do have both a near and a distant fulfillment. Isaiah 17 prophesies the cataclysmic destruction of Damascus and surrounding territory. Ezekiel 37 gives a graphic word picture of the restoration of Israel in the vision of the dry bones. Ezekiel 38-39 describe the end-time invasion of Israel by Russia and the outer band of nations surrounding Israel. Zechariah 14 tells of Christ’s return to Earth and gives a description of the battle of Armageddon. Psalm 2 tells of the rebellion of the heathen, and the judgment that awaits them. Isaiah 11 gives a description of conditions that will prevail during the Kingdom age, the Millennium.

Now some specifics

Daniel 12:1-4 gives some important details of conditions in the end times:

[1] And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. This speaks of the great tribulation which is to come on the whole Earth after the Church is gone. Its purpose is to purify Israel and bring its people into proper relationship with God.

[2] And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” This refers to the resurrection of the just at the time of the rapture, and the resurrection of the unsaved at the time of the Great White Throne judgment. There will be a second resurrection of the just at the end of the Tribulation, as I understand it, of those who were saved during the tribulation and were killed for their faith.

[3] And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” The wise are those who have trusted Christ as their Lord and Savior, and their brightness is their reward who win souls to Christ.

[4] And thou, o Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end:… Until recent years, portions of the prophecies of Daniel have been sealed, that is their meaning could not be understood except in the context of current events when the time of their fulfillment was close at hand.

…Many shall run to and fro, … Until about the middle of the 18th century all travel was either on foot or with the aid of some sort of animal. With the advent of the railroad and the gasoline engine, all that changed. Now nearly everyone has a car capable of doing 70 miles per hour or faster, we have airplanes which routinely travel at 600 miles per hour and rocketships which have taken men to the moon and back.

…and knowledge shall be increased. Knowledge has increased more in the past century than in all time beyond put together. Sadly, much of today’s knowledge is being used for evil and not for good, such as universal spying, better and more efficient ways of killing people, and genetic tampering on food crops, now known to sicken both people and livestock, and having the potential to contaminate the gene pool worldwide, potentially resulting in famines with the potential to starve millions to death. Genetic tampering, mixing genes from unrelated species, was what ultimately brought on the flood of Noah’s day, because the entire genetic makeup of the world had become corrupted and only Noah and his family remained uncontaminated. This tampering is explicitly mentioned in the apocryphal books of Enoch and Jasher.

Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, chapter 3 verses 1-5, tell of the moral conditions of our day.

[1] This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. Sounds just like conditions today, doesn’t it? And much of this has come about just in my lifetime.

2 Thessalonians chapter 2 tells about the coming of the Antichrist, and gives a hint concerning the rapture. I recommend you read the entire book.

[6] And now you know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time. [7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he who now letteth [withholds, restrains]will letuntil he be taken out of the way. [8] And thenshall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, [10] And all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they might believe a lie; [12] That they might all be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (Emphasis added.)

In verses six and seven we have the Restrainer. We believe this is none other than the Holy Spirit dwelling in all born again Christians in this world. Since we are all sealed with the Holy Spirit, the only way the Restrainer can be removed is to remove us, the Church, the Ekklesia, the called out assembly of believers in Jesus Christ. Then and only then can the Antichrist be revealed (verse 8), and there is a massive push on right now for the formation of one world government and one world religion, to be led by this evil man. All the events I have made note of in my previous articles in this series are setting the stage for that eventuality. The Department of Homeland Security procuring 1.7 Billion rounds of ammunition, FEMA camps equipped with guillotines, FEMA being directed to make preparations for massive fatalities, cover stories of expectation of mega-catastrophes, what does all of this tell you? Something BIG IS going on. Verse 9 tells who is behind all of this, none other than Satan himself. Verses 10-12 tell of the fate of those who have willfully rejected Jesus in this age, they won’t get a second chance once the rapture has come and they are left behind. They will all fall prey to the delusion that the antichrist is God, and will all be condemned with him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 tell of the rapture, how it will happen.

[16] For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The dead will arise and join us who are still living, we will all receive our glorified bodies and in an instant be caught up together to join Jesus in the air, to be escorted to Heaven. I recommend you read the whole chapter.

1 Corinthians 15 gives an in depth discussion of the resurrection, then details what will happen to us when that event happens:

[51] Behold I show a mystery; we shall not all sleep [die], but we shall be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [23] For this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality. So it will all happen in an instant, Greek Atomos, the smallest possible division of time. A nanosecond, a New York Minute. (What is a New York Minute? That’s the time between when the light turns green and the cabbie behind you blows his horn. Joke! It’ll happen much quicker than than a New York minute.) Read the whole chapter.

The gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, gives many details of things that will be happening just before Jesus returns for His own. Wars and rumors of wars. Nation against nation and tribe against tribe (verses 6-7). Persecution (verse 9). Betrayal (verse 10). False prophets (verse 11). Many of them nowadays.

Verse 12: Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Lots of that already, and much worse to come.

[13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. This is tribulation prophecy. Those who receive Jesus after the rapture and maintain their faith to the end of the tribulation shall be saved. That is not for this present age.

[14] Gospel of the Kingdom preached to all the world. This will happen during the tribulation. God’s grace again, not willing that any should perish, but that all should find repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Sadly, many will refuse it.

[15] Abomination of desolation in the holy place… Hasn’t happened yet. This will happen sometime around the midpoint of the tribulation. Tribulation events continue through verse 31.

Be aware that not all of the events of Matthew 24 are in chronological order. The parts concerning the rapture follow the parts about events during the tribulation, but precede the latter in their happening.

Now the key-Israel’s restoration as a nation:

[32] Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when his branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves, ye know summer is nigh: [33] So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. [34] Verily I say to you, this generation shall not pass, until all these things be fulfilled.

The fig tree is a prophetic symbol of Israel. The putting forth of leaves is symbolic of the nation of Israel, scattered all over the world for nearly 2000 years, being restored as a nation in May 1948. Verse 33-Jesus makes the point, when you see all these signs happening, wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, storms, moral collapse etc. and you see Israel restored as a nation, know that the end is near. Jesus described this period as being like birth pangs, starting off mild and infrequent, then increasing in both intensity and frequency until the baby is born. The pangs are now increasing at an exponential rate, and things are rapidly coming to a head. Then verse 34 gives a very big hint to the approximate time of the rapture-the generation that sees all these things begin to happen will not pass away until all is fulfilled. And all means all the way up to the end of the tribulation period, at least another seven years after the rapture. According to the Bible the usual lifespan of a generation is 70 years, if by strength, 80. It has now been close to 63 years since Israel once again became a nation, and if the rapture were to happen today there would still be at least seven years until the end of all that Jesus prophesied.

No man knows the day and hour (the exact time) of the rapture, but I truly believe He is telling us we will know when that time is near. I believe that we are in that time now.

Verses 37-39 give some clues as to what things will be like at the time of His coming.

[37] But as the days of Noe were, so shall the coming of the Son of man be. [38] For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking. Marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noe entered into the ark, [39] And knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so also shall the coming of the Son of man be.

Noah preached for some 200 years while the ark was being constructed, and nobody listened. When the flood came, only Noah, his family, and the animals brought into the ark, were saved. So it is in the days leading up to the rapture, it’s business as usual for the world and will be right up until the rapture. And very few people are paying any attention.

[40] Then shall two be in the field, the one shall be taken, the other left. [41] Two women shall be grinding at the mill; one shall be taken and the other left. A perfect picture of the rapture.

[42] Watch therefore for you know not what hour your Lord doth come. This I believe is another clue to the timing of the rapture, it will come at a time when no one is expecting it. Once the tribulation is underway, things are going to be anything but business as usual. It will be chaos. Once we’ve received Jesus our salvation is assured, nevertheless if we don’t live it out, we can lose our reward. See 1 Corinthians chapter 3 for details.

1 Thessalonians 5:9: For God hath not appointed us to judgment, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. More assurance of our eternal salvation in Jesus Christ.

Revelation 3:10, from Jesus’ seven letters to seven churches: Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them who dwell upon the earth.

This was addressed to the church at Philadelphia, generally considered to represent the believing church in the world at this time, and is another argument in favor of a pre-tribulation rapture. It is one of seven letters from the Lord Jesus to seven churches of His day, usually thought to be representative of various conditions of churches through history, from His day to our day.

There’s much more about the tribulation and the end times especially from Revelation 4 and onward, and another hint of the pre-tribulation rapture, and all the plagues God will pour out on the world once we are gone. It tells among other things of a totalitarian dictator who will seek to control the whole world, and we are seeing preparations for that in progress in this day and time. And this is what I have been seeking to emphasize all the way through this series.

We are in critical times. Preparations for the one world government are well underway and the big push is on. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 we must be gone before the antichrist can be revealed, and that can only mean one thing in the context of today’s events: The time of the rapture must be very close. There is only one way you can prepare and be ready for evacuation in the rapture, and that is to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The only way you can do that is to let go of your sins, turn to Jesus and invite Him into your life by an act of your will. If you have never received Jesus into your life and the rapture happens, you will be left behind and will go into the tribulation period. Yes, a great multitude will be saved in the tribulation but for most it will be at the cost of their physical life. Revelation 20:4 speaks of the souls beheaded for their witness of Jesus and the word of God. This is as real as it gets. I have seen the reports of guillotines in the FEMA camps and I believe they are real.

But don’t think you can willfully reject Jesus now and expect to be saved after the rapture. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 plainly says if you’ve done that you will be sent strong delusion, and you will believe the lie that the antichrist is God, and you will be cast into the lake of fire where he is going, to be tormented in flames for ever and ever. Believe me you don’t want to go there. And you don’t have to.

This is your watchman-on-the-wall warning. The horn is sounding. The enemy (Satan incarnate) is coming. Don’t let him take you. Trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you will be saved and rescued and safe from the enemy. Do it now! Reject Jesus and the enemy sooner or later will get you and take you to hell to live forever in eternal torment.

Romans 10:9-13: That if thou shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord is rich unto all who call upon him. [13]For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The choice is up to you, You must decide for yourself. I can’t do it for you. Do it today, do it now.

Pete Rose

email: wvhillbilly737@suddenlink.net

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

Over the last year it has become harder and harder to have a conversation about faith.  I have felt a hardening of positions on both sides.  we see this in politics too.  On the faith side, it stands out to me that more and more, we feel as if we may suffer some fallout from sharing our faith and the Gospel.  Not outright persecution but blowback from differences in opinion, and a general feeling that we need to keep it to ourselves.

What Jeff shares in the article below is something I have felt to varying degrees over the last couple of years.  It’s roots come from the doctrine of the Emergent church.  The ideas are infecting our chruches and leading many off the narrow path.  We need to pray that through us planting seeds, God can pull them back onto the correct path.

Maranatha – Come quickly Lord!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

False Sense of Security

By Jeff Patty


I had a short discussion the other day with a co-worker concerning Biblical matters. It’s not the first time, and it probably won’t be the last. It became a little heated, but the co-worker seems to like heated arguments, and he seems to be more desiring to push peoples’ buttons than usual. I believe the reasons are twofold. One, he has a liberal view of Christianity, and two, he has a liberal view of politics. And as the election gets closer, he gets more aggressive and outspoken about all his liberal beliefs.

I like my co-worker; he’s funny and can be caring. And I also love and care for him as a person. But, his liberal views of the Bible and his liberal interpretation gravely concern me. You see, he claims to be a Christian and seems bold at times in proclaiming it. And at times he will say things that I totally agree with and it seems like he’s getting a grasp on the Word. But then he’ll start talking to someone, and it’s so unbiblical it’s scary! Yet he’s convinced he’s right and he’s convincing others at work that don’t know any better that he’s right. Something I like to say about people who treat the Word like this is, “They treat the Bible like it’s a salad bar. They take what they want and leave the rest.” This perfectly describes my co-worker.

I’ll give some examples of what I’ve overheard and even had brief discussions with him about. Once I heard him say very boldly that, “The book of Revelation is a pile of horse****!” Another time he said, “John the Revelator must have gotten ahold of some bad mushrooms on the Island of Patmos, because he was crazy! He believes prophecy is total nonsense. And the other thing of great concern, he has no problem with profanity, especially using the Lord’s name in vain. I don’t know how many times a day he does, I just know that I hear every form of it at least two dozen times each day at work. Minimum! It’s the same as you or I saying, “and, or but, or the” while making a statement. And he never shows any remorse or guilt for the profanity. The only thing I’ve ever known him to show guilt for is gossip. Which is good, and it’s something we all probably struggle with to some degree and should feel guilt for and ask forgiveness for but the profanity isn’t an issue for him.

Neither is sexual immorality. He is a big supporter of anything and everything homosexual. He’s single and has never been married and he’s in his early fifties. I’ve even heard him state a couple of different times that he still hopes to meet someone and get married someday and he knows God has someone for him whoever HE or SHE may be. The first time I heard him say that, I convinced myself that I didn’t hear him right. He wasn’t talking to me, I just overheard him, and so I dismissed it. The second time I heard him; there was no mistaking what he said. This is one of the scriptures he leaves out or throws away, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” Romans 1:26-27 (KJV)

He listens to and follows a couple of famous pastors or, “Life Coaches” as they like to be called today, that feed people what I like to call, “Cotton Candy and Kool-Aid.” Fluff. Even though I would never introduce him to the following people, he would love the “Religious Left” teachings of Brian McLaren and Rob Bell. My co-worker hates the Jews for “occupying the Palestinians’ territory,” and he believes God is a God of love and would never send anybody to Hell. And at other times he even says there is no Hell. So if he ever becomes aware of McLaren and Bell, he’ll have their collected works. Both of these men are a big part of the emergent movement that is destroying Christianity. McLaren and Bell are the types of teachers spoken of in 2 Peter 1:1-2: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” (KJV)

He recently recovered from lung cancer and it almost appears that he was miraculously healed. He claims it was through the power of prayer. Maybe it was, I don’t know. He says he must have a purpose, that’s why God has spared him, more than once. He’s had a lot of other close calls. Maybe. But I can’t help but think: maybe he was spared to deceive people. You see, I believe that Satan has the power to heal. He tries to imitate God. They’re pale imitations for sure, but he is able to imitate to some degree. A fascinating and frightening book that I highly recommend is, The Beautiful Side of Evil, by Johanna Michaelsen. In it she talks about when she was involved in the occult with a psychic healer and learning the craft, and how she witnessed many healings of individuals. Some were healed for only short periods of time, others for very long periods of time. Even before she became born-again she felt an evil presence during these sessions. Once she was saved she knew the healings were demonic. Now I’m not saying my co-worker is possessed, but I do believe that because of his preaching of another gospel, he could be being used to lead people astray. “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Gal 1:6-9 (KJV)

Like the “Religious Left,” my co-worker seems to have an animosity towards anyone who exposes conservative Christian values. We’re seen as hateful, intolerant and judgmental. And it’s not just him but anyone else with his worldview. I’m convinced that this type of attitude and treatment will become more pronounced and accepted in the near future. I believe the day is quickly coming when it will be dangerous for a true believer to voice his or her convictions in this country, even in a small town like mine.

I haven’t written this article to judge my co-worker or belittle him. I’m sincerely concerned for his soul. He truly believes he is saved yet, the evidence suggests otherwise. I fear he has a false sense of security. And what really bothers me is, in my experience, these are the types of people that are the hardest to reach. If it’s someone who maybe isn’t necessarily an atheist, but they don’t claim to be a Christian, you can present them with the Gospel. Build a foundation. But for someone who believes they are a born-again Christian, whether through heritage or just saying it, it’s hard to say anything that doesn’t offend them or put them on the defensive. I will readily admit I have a hard time knowing how to talk to this particular co-worker and anyone else of a similar mindset. Where I work, and the area where I live, it is populated with a huge amount of people with this mindset, yet their lifestyle isn’t remotely Christian. Quite the opposite. But they believe they have secured a home in Heaven. Maybe I’m naive. Maybe it’s this way everywhere. I fear that it is. It’s a symptom of the condition of our churches. Churches that are all too willing to feed on cotton candy and kool-aid.

I will pray for my co-worker and others like him, and try to set a godly example and be a good witness. That may be more effective than words.

www.jeffpatty.com

jeff@jeffpatty.com

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

After reading the article below I couldn’t help but reflect on my own feelings.  Being a watchman and sifting through all of the garage of this lost world does add a little edge to your happiness.  It is not a depression or lost of faith but a sadness for what we the human race has become and how many of us will not be saved due to our pride and stubbornness.

Once you have detached from this world, it is no longer home, you do tend to not be as joyful of the things of this world.  This is a good thing but something I have struggled with while living in this world but not being part of it.  It is amazing how quickly “this world” pushes you aside as soon as you disconnect, but once you do you feel the peace in your heart and soul, you gripped fist loosens, opens and turns palms up.  It is how we were meant to hold the things/plans of this world, while longing for the next.

Maranatha – Come quickly Lord!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

Blessed? Very! Happy? Ehhhh, Maybe Not So Much!

By Sandee Lloyd


I hear people talk about joy, and happiness, and contentment, as if they were interchangeable, and for the “true Christian”, compulsory. The sermon was on that subject at church today. It was a good sermon. The passage was Psalm 1: 1-3. The message was this: blessed/happy is the man who is separated from the world (Walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, standeth not in the way of sinners, and sitteth not in the seat of the scornful). Blessed/happy is the man that is Saturated in the Word (meditating on the Lord’s “preserved and purified” Word –Ps. 12:6-7– day and night, delighting in it), and Blessed/Happy is the man who is Situated in the Faith (like a tree planted by the rivers of water, bringing forth fruit in due season, not withering, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper). But I still, for the life of me, do not see how this equates to never-ending happiness in this lifetime. Technically the word “blessed” is interchangeable with the word “happy”, but happy is subjective and qualitative, while blessed, is definitive. I don’t even think “joyful” and “happy” are synonymous, although they might be considered degrees of the one state, but now I’m splitting hairs.

It is hard for me to be “ever- joyful”, being a Watchman on the wall, knowing what I know about the conditions in our world and in our nation, and seeing what I see in Scripture, as to where it is all headed. I am not discouraged or worried or despondent, rather I am accepting of what is, and very expectant of “what shall be”. It’s the “in-between now and then”, that is growing protracted and wearisome!!! Perhaps that is a mere case of “A hope deferred makes a heart sick”. The more real the prospect of Heaven becomes, the less “happy” I am here.

(more…)

Read Full Post »

A lot of articles this week so far, may prophecies in play…

_________________________________________________________________

Ukraine takes aim against ‘gay propaganda’
the bill would prevent anyone sending out a message that there is nothing wrong with being gay – whether in a newspaper editorial, a public speech or parade. This bill’s authors have cited films like Brokeback Mountain as an example.

Pro-‘gay marriage’ ads labeled ‘con job’
The ads feature heterosexuals promoting homosexual marriage. According to an Associated Press report, one ad features a husband and wife talking “fondly” of a lesbian couple in their neighborhood; another a pastor talking “supportively” of same-sex unions; and still another a married couple wanting “fair treatment” for their lesbian daughter. But missing from the ads are … homosexuals.

Iran a factor in early Israeli elections, says Rubin
A U.S.-born Israeli author and former politician says it was a “wise” political move by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call for early elections in Israel.

Congress sets hearing as conflicting reports cloud Benghazi terror attack
Congress, angered by reports that the State Department failed to take seriously threats by Al Qaida, plans to investigate the storming of the American consulate in Libya in which four diplomats were killed.

Turkey threatens force as ‘worst-case scenario’ to change Syrian regime
Turkey has suggested that it would invade Syria to end the regime of President Bashar Assad. For the first time, Turkey has warned of what its president termed a “worst-case scenario” in Syria. Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Ankara would continue to attack Syria to protect against shelling and other operations against Turkey.

Syrian rebels capture Hizbullah fighters ‘in full combat gear’
“The 13 Hizbullah fighters, in full combat gear, were manning security and military checkpoints in the Homs countryside,” FSA spokesman Fahd Al Masri said. “They were not on a religious, tourist or family visit to the region.” Over the last two months, FSA has captured scores of Hizbullah operatives in Syria. FSA said many of the detainees had been assigned to quell Sunni rebel operations around Aleppo, Damascus and Homs.

Earthquakes in North Texas in late September were just flukes
The three earthquakes that shook North Texas late last month left many mildly rattled residents scratching their heads. North Texas is not on any major fault lines, and area residents are likely more familiar with tornadoes than other violent natural disruptions, but the two earthquakes that struck West Dallas and Irving on September 29 registered a 3.4 and 3.1 on the Richter scale, respectively. A third quake in Irving the next day registered at 2.1

American seismologist predicts an increase in seismic activity in Baku and on the Absheron peninsula
At the International Seismology Conference taking place in Baku American scientist and seismologist Robert King has informed that in Baku and Absheron peninsula it is expected an increase in seismic activity as a result of compression fracture between the Minor and the Greater Caucasus.

Mali Islamists ‘buying child soldiers, imposing Sharia’
Islamists who seized control of part of Mali are amassing money from ransoms and drug trafficking while imposing Sharia law, says a senior UN official. They are also buying child soldiers, paying families $600 (£375) per child, Ivan Simonovic said after a fact-finding visit to the country. Islamic extremists seized two-thirds of Mali in March when a military coup plunged the country into chaos.

Russia Won’t Renew Pact on Weapons With U.S.
The Russian government said Wednesday that it would not renew a hugely successful 20-year partnership with the United States to safeguard and dismantle nuclear and chemical weapons in the former Soviet Union when the program expires next spring, a potentially grave setback in the already fraying relationship between the former cold war enemies.

Islam appears to spread in Haiti, a country where Christianity and Voodoo hold sway
What’s helped pull her through all the grief, she said, has been her faith, but not of the Catholic, Protestant or even Voodoo variety that have predominated in this island country. Instead, she’s converted to a new religion here, Islam, and built a small neighborhood mosque out of cinderblocks and plywood, where some 60 Muslims pray daily.

Magnitude-5.3 earthquake shakes Costa Rica
The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake occurred at 6:19 a.m. (8:19 EST; 12:19 GMT) and was centered eight miles (14 kilometers) north-northeast of the town of Nicoya. The epicenter was about 22 miles (35 kilometers) below the surface.

Putin seeks to expand energy and military ties with Iraq, reviving Soviet-era relationship
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday pushed for closer energy and military co-operation with Iraq, seeking to rebuild ties that withered after Saddam Hussein’s downfall and the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Panetta: US sends forces to Jordan
The United States has sent military troops to the Jordan-Syria border to bolster that country’s military capabilities in the event that violence escalates along its border with Syria, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday. Speaking at a NATO conference of defense ministers in Brussels, Panetta said the U.S. has been working with Jordan to monitor chemical and biological weapons sites in Syria’

Ignoring threats, Jordanian sworn in as Israel envoy
The new Jordanian ambassador to Israel, Walid Obeidat, was sworn in Monday before King Abdullah after rejecting threats from his powerful clan not to accept the job. The ceremony was attended by Jordanian Foreign Minister Naser Judeh. Obeidat chose to ignore his family’s threats that they would “disown” him if he agreed to serve as ambassador to Israel.

Pope Benedict XVI prays in Arabic for the first time
The Arabic blessing – the first time the language has been used at such an event – was part of a Vatican attempt to reach out more to Christians and Muslims in the Middle East.

Anti-Semitism on the Temple Mount
A young British Jewish student was reportedly accosted by Wakf officials, who demanded that he remove his yarmulke, which they said they found to be “offensive.” Rather than get into an altercation, the student chose to leave, later telling reporters that, “I have experienced anti-Semitism in England, but I never thought that in Judaism’s holiest site I would be subjugated to such discrimination.”

MP: Turkish army can reach Damascus for three hours
In the event of a war with Syria, the Turkish army will need only three hours to reach the country’s capital Damascus, Turkish TV channel Beyaz TV quotes MP from the ruling Justice and Development Party Samil Tayar as saying on Wednesday. MP emphasized that Ankara is fully ready for military actions.

Russia warns against use of force against Iran
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on Wednesday, Oct 10, that the use of force against Tehran would spell the end of the negotiating process on Iran’s nuclear program, RIA Novosti reported. “Time and again we hear threats that if there is no progress on Iran’s nuclear program only one option will remain – the use of force. We hope that will never happen,” he said.

Texas schools punish students who refuse to be tracked with microchips
A school district in Texas came under fire earlier this year when it announced that it would require students to wear microchip-embedded ID cards at all times. Now, students who refuse to be monitored say they are feeling the repercussions. …Hernandez said in an interview with Salon that subjecting herself to constant monitoring through an RFID chip is like being branded with the “mark of the beast” – a reference to the Bible’s apocalyptic Book of Revelations.

Almost 40 Earthquakes Hit Near Reykjavík
The epicenter of the earthquake swarm lies to the southeast of Bláfjöll. On Friday, the area was hit by a stronger earthquake of a magnitude of 3.8, ruv.is reports.

Are Businesses Quietly Preparing for a Financial Apocalypse?
As investors, we can infer quite a bit from corporations’ inability (or unwillingness) to deploy their cash. For one, it indicates that business have assumed a very defensive stance. Cash, of course, is a buffer against uncertainty – the uncertainty that business slows for any reason. Management wants a healthy cash reserve with which to pay the bills and remain liquid should anything unexpected happen.

No Currencies Will Survive What Lies Ahead, But That’s OK
The Portola Group, warned about a chaotic future where, “Along the way, various currencies will become the safe haven of the day, but none will survive what lies ahead.” He also cautioned, “No amount of printing or economic growth can prevent our destiny of currency destruction and entitlement collapse.”

Obama’s ring: ‘There is no god but Allah’
…the ring Obama has been wearing for more than 30 years is adorned with the first part of the Islamic declaration of faith, the Shahada: “There is no God except Allah.”

No tsunami threat from southwestern Pacific quake
A preliminary 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck 452 miles northwest of the Balleny Islands region early this morning at 2:32 a.m., but presented no tsunami threat to Hawaii, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Magnitude 4.5 earthquake rattles Montreal area, no reports of damage
An earthquake rattled the Montreal region early Wednesday, waking up some people but causing no injuries or serious damage. The magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck shortly after midnight and was centered about 23 miles (37 kilometers) southeast of Montreal, said Natural Resources Canada seismologist Allison Bent in Ottawa.

US-Israel reportedly discussing joint ‘surgical strike’ on Iran
Israel and the US are reportedly working on a limited joint attack on Iran aimed at setting the country’s nuclear program back several years without inflaming the region, a source close to talks between the nations said.

Study: One-Third Of Adults Under 30 Have No Religious Affiliation
One-fifth of American adults have no religious affiliation, and this number is increasing rapidly. The number of Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a fast pace. One-fifth of the U.S. public – and a third of adults under 30 – are religiously unaffiliated today, the highest percentages ever in Pew Research Center polling.

Official: Syria debating full military mobilization
President Bashar al-Assad of Syria held a meeting today with his regime’s army leadership to discuss the possibility of a full general military mobilization to face the prospect of war with Turkey, according to a senior Syrian official speaking to WND. The official said no decision has been taken about whether to mobilize all branches or to call up the reserves, citing an argument at the meeting that Syria doesn’t want to be seen as taking the first major step toward war.

Al-Maliki eyes $5 billion defense deal with Russia
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki set off for Moscow yesterday to sign a $5 billion contract for the sale of weapons including fighter jets, helicopters, anti-aircraft missile systems and armored vehicles to Baghdad, according to a Russian newspaper. If the deal takes place, Iraq will be among five largest importers of Russian arms, according to Pravda.

Egypt’s President Mursi pardons ‘revolutionaries’
Egypt’s President, Mohammed Mursi, has pardoned all those arrested since the beginning of last year’s popular uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak. A post on the president’s official Facebook page announced an amnesty for crimes and misdemeanours committed “in support of the revolution”. The decree could lead to the release of several thousand people.

IMF sees ‘alarmingly high’ risk of fresh global slump
“Risks for recession in the advanced economies are alarmingly high,” said the Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook. “The intensity of the euro area crisis has not abated as assumed in previous projections.”

Earth’s outer layers may be spinning over molten core
At various times in Earth’s history, the planet’s solid exterior — its crust and mantle layers — has apparently drifted over the planet’s spinning core. To picture this, imagine that a peach’s flesh somehow became detached from a peach’s pit and was free to move about over it.

UAE: Gulf must tackle Muslim Brotherhood threat
Gulf Arab countries should work together to stop Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood plotting to undermine governments in the region, the United Arab Emirates’ foreign minister said on Monday.

Obama announces César Chávez monument
Obama traveled to Southern California on Monday to announce the establishment of a national monument to the Mexican-American union organizer César Chávez, while offering Hispanic voters a subtle nudge less than a month before Election Day.

Indonesia Earthquake: Maluku Hit By 6.3-Magnitude Quake In Eastern Indonesia
A strong earthquake shook parts of eastern Indonesia on Monday, sending residents and hotel guests running out of their rooms, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Indonesia’s meteorology and geophysics agency said there was no danger of a tsunami. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured magnitude 6.3 and was centered 139 kilometers (86 miles) southeast of Ambon, the provincial capital of Maluku, at a depth of 34 kilometers (21 miles).

6.0 earthquake strikes off northwest Mexico – USGS
“We felt it hard, and it shook the building like we’ve never felt before,” said Rafael Ines, an editor at Los Mochis paper El Debate. “It was a pretty hardcore shake.”

Call to Separate Jews, Arabs on Temple Mount
The call came less than an hour after a rabbi and two Jews were arrested on suspicion of “praying” on the site, just hours before the start of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. One of the two Jews had three of his children with him at the time. In addition, an Arab was arrested in connection with violent riots on the site that had taken place two days earlier in which worshipers hurled rocks at police as they left the mosque after prayers.

 

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

I second the right scoop in the feinted shock.

What, they are not a secular, peaceful organization?

What, the Jews plan to build a Third Temple?

What, they want to unite behind a single man?  Hmm Antichrist anyone?  12th Imam?  Mahdi?

How can the world sleep through this?

_________________________________________________________________

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Chief: Time to wage Holy Jihad against Israel and for Islamic nation to unite around one man

Wait! Why would a secular and peaceful organization that our own president said should participate in the governance of Egypt start spewing the language of terrorists? Have we been misled by our administration?

Read this:

TIMES OF ISRAEL – Egypt’s foremost Muslim Brotherhood official called on the Arab world Thursday to replace negotiations with Israel with “holy Jihad,” claiming that if Jews are allowed to pray on the Temple Mount they will destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and supplant it with the third temple.

Mohammed Badie, Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, declared in a public message published by Egyptian daily Al-Ahram that “the Zionists only understand force,” and that Arabs cannot hope to achieve justice from the Jews “through the corridors of the United Nations or through negotiations.” …

“The time has come for the Islamic nation to unite around one man for the sake of Jerusalem and Palestine,” Badie said. “The Jews have dominated the land, spread corruption on earth, spilled the blood of believers and in their actions profaned holy places, including their own.”

“Zionists only understand the language of force and will not relent without duress,” Badie continued. “This will only happen through holy Jihad, high sacrifices and all forms of resistance. The day they realize we will march this path and raise the banner of Jihad for the sake of God, is the day they will relent and stop their tyranny.”

I’d love to see the original translated from Arabic to English to understand the context of what he’s saying with regard to “the Islamic nation to unite around one man”. I know what that sounds like, but at present there is no caliphate unless that is understood in his original statement.

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

JD did an amazing job this week breaking down some of the amazing UN speeches we heard.

It was amazing to hear how much prophecy was echoed in what they are saying.  Our Presidents speech was especially chilling given what we know of prophecy.

I agree whole heartily with JD warning for what is in-store if the Lord tarries.  If they manage to pass the UN resolution – Defamation of Religion, Christians are going to be directly impacted due to our core beliefs (John 14:6).

John 14:6

New King James Version (NKJV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Maranatha – Lord come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

Posted on the Right Scoop and I agree this must go Viral, it is a must see!

_________________________________________________________________

MUST GO VIRAL: The truth about the Obama administration and Israel

This is a very compelling video put together by the Republican Jewish Coalition on the actions of the Obama administration since 2009 and how these actions have affected both Israel and the Middle East. This mini-documentary is called “Perilous Times” and is a must watch:

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

So we are all anxiously awaiting the Lord return for His Church.  I know I am, but what are we to do with all this anxiousness and anxiety while we wait faithfully and patiently (besides cracking our knuckles, tapping our pencil, or clicking our pen cap, my wife hates that).  The Lord was very specific and Peter gave some very interesting words about what we should be doing while we wait.  And wait really isn’t the right word, we are supposed to be busy doing the Lord’s will.

In 2 Peter 3:12, Peter drops a subtle hint that we can impact the timing of God’s plan and that should be our goal.

2 Peter 3:11-12

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! (emphasis added)

We are not just to be looking for His return.  That is important, but we are to be hastening the coming!

Can we really do that?

Yes, we know that God has a specific number of gentiles that must be brought to Christ before Christ’s return.  We can certainly help by spreading the Gospel.  Not only should we live it but we need to get aggressive about spreading God’s wonderful promise.  Especially now as things are looking bleaker and bleaker, what better time for Good News!

Pastor JD and Ryan both have good discussions of this topic below, JD in this weeks Aloha prophecy update and Ryan from an article posted on RaptureReady.com.

Maranatha – Lord come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

——————–

I Am Calling You Out, Church

By Ryan Vanderstelt


Where are you Church? Are you reading this? Are you as ready as I to go home? If you are anything like me, you have been waiting a LONG time for Christ to return. We have been standing in the train terminal with our bags packed, peering down the tracks for the faintest glimmer of light, testing the ground for that particular tremor and waiting for the sound of that Glorious Call. We watch for Feasts. We watch for the planets and stars to be in the right positions and the right color. We watch for those things while we hold our breath: “Is this it? Is it going to be tonight? Maybe while I sleep tonight? Will I wake up to Glory…or just wake up?”.

And yet, here…we…are – still standing in the train station checking our watches. Is the train late? We don’t know. He gave us some indications of when to expect him and we see those indications all around us, but still no train Home.

Truth is, there is something lacking that we, and I include myself here, seem to be overlooking. The one thing He said would hasten His arrival. We are waiting on some passengers to arrive at the station. We cannot expect to go until there are enough of us to fill the train to capacity. So instead of looking at all the things that are swirling around us, things we can all see are pointing to His return. I make the following proposal.

I want to form an “army” of sorts. A kind of Army of God. Please hear me out – I can hear the rustlings in your mind thinking this smacks of the Crusades of the Middle Ages, but I don’t mean exactly that. I am tired of waiting. It is time we start DOING!

(more…)

Read Full Post »

Another packed week of prophecy headlines…

_________________________________________________________________

Three Star General: Muslim Brotherhood Has Infiltrated Our Government
U.S. Army Lieutenant General (Ret.) William Jerry Boykin claims that individuals with connections to the Muslim Brotherhood hold security clearances in both the Pentagon and the Department of Defense. Boykin says Republicans should have listened to Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn), who was correct to be concerned over possible Muslim Brotherhood ties of Huma Abedin, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton’s Deputy Chief of Staff.

AP Interview: Ahmadinejad pushes new world order
fter an hour of fielding questions about Syria, sanctions and nuclear weapons, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had enough. Now, he said, it was his turn to choose the topic — his “new order” which will inevitably replace the current era of what he called U.S. bullying.

Iran official: ‘Big war’ means Mahdi’s coming
For the first time, Iran’s highest-ranking military official has tied the reappearance of the last Islamic messiah to the regime being prepared to go to a war based on ideology. “With having the treasure of the Holy Defense, Valayat (Guardianship of the Jurist) and martyrs, we are ready for a big war,” Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said, according to Mashregh news, which is run by the Revolutionary Guards.

Skewed polls indicate Obama’s in trouble – not Romney
The absurdity of the skewed sample models in those polls is one thing, but what conservatives need to understand is that polls skewed to heavily favor Democrats logically point to one very important fact – Obama is in big trouble.

Muslims protest at US Embassy in Bangkok
Islamic protesters have pushed barricades and confronted police in front of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok during a rally against a video produced in the United States that denigrates the Prophet Muhammad. About 300 police officers were maintaining order Thursday as around 200 men and boys rallied.

Honeymoon Over as Markets Brace for Volatile Times
The message from this week’s sell off in global stock markets could not be clearer: The summer time rally, fueled by optimism over central bank stimulus measures, is now over and it’s time to brace for a period of renewed volatility and uncertainty, analysts say. …A retreat in global markets, which have seen stellar gains over the last three months, reflects a shift in sentiment among investors, analysts say.

Fed Virtually Funding the Entire US Deficit: Lindsey
The latest round of extraordinary Federal Reserve stimulus is risky and leaves little room to maneuver should another crisis hit, economist Lawrence Lindsey told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Wednesday. Lindsey said that with the Fed purchasing at least $40 billion a month in mortgage debt through QE3, “they are buying the entire deficit.”

Half of Israelis ‘fear for the state’s existence’ if war breaks out with Iran
Something has evidently happened to Israelis’ famed self-confidence: Only a quarter of those questioned said they do not fear for the state’s future in a scenario in which Israel and Iran go to war.

Creepy anarchists plot Halloween terror
In a creepy posting, the Occupy movement is calling for a “Halloween night party” in Washington, D.C., next month in which protesters are asked to wear masks to “trick or treat” Congress and “party like we’ve never partied before.”

Meet the world’s first transhumanist politician
Transhumanism is a philosophical doctrine that aims to continuously improve humanity. It promotes science and technology but with people at its centre. Ultimately, it aims to free humanity from its biological limitations, overcoming natural evolution to make us more than human.

Volcano erupts with smoke on Sumatra
Mount Marapi’s eruption on Wednesday is its strongest since August last year, when its status was raised to level three out of four. Suparno, who uses one name, says there is no plan for an evacuation because the nearest villages are far beyond the danger zone of three kilometres from the crater.

Sumatran earthquakes in April were part of tectonic plate breakup
The first of the quakes, a magnitude 8.7, was 20 times more powerful than California’s long anticipated “big one” and tore a complex network of faults deep in the ocean floor. The violence also triggered unusually large aftershocks thousands of miles away, including four off North America’s western coast. “It was jaw-dropping,” said Thorne Lay, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz. “It was like nothing we’d ever seen.”

Deputy FM: US, Israeli red lines on Iran growing closer
The US and Israel are continuing to work on defining “red lines” for Iran’s nuclear program, even if they are not publicly notifying Tehran or the world, deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Thursday. …Ayalon said Jerusalem’s and Washington’s positions regarding Iran are drawing closer together, despite a recent public spat …over the US’s refusal to set an ultimatum on Iran in public.

Netanyahu pledges fitting response to Ahmadinejad speech
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu left hours after Yom Kippur Wednesday night for New York to address the UN, pledging to give a fitting response to Iran’s desire to “sentence us to death.”

Anti-cuts protests erupt on streets of Athens and Madrid
Demonstrators have clashed with police on the streets of Athens and Madrid in an upsurge of popular anger at new austerity measures being imposed on two of the euro zone’s most vulnerable economies.

Strong earthquake jolts Alaska’s Aleutian Islands
Seismologists say a strong earthquake has jolted Alaska’s sparsely populated western Aleutian islands. There are no immediate reports of injury or damage from Wednesday’s earthquake. Its magnitude was initially reported as 6.9 but officials later revised that to 6.4.

France to Eliminate Words ‘Mother,’ ‘Father’ From Documents
A proposal to legalize gay marriage in France would also abolish all references to “mothers” and fathers” in official documents. Under the draft bill, same-sex marriages would become legal, and gay couples would have the same rights to adopt children as heterosexual couples. The bill would also do away with all references to “mothers and fathers” in the civil code and replace them with the gender-neutral term “parents.”

Romney: Ahmadinejad is ‘voice of unspeakable evil’
His comment came a day after the Iranian president, in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, said Israel had “no roots” in the Middle East, and that the Israelis “represent minimal disturbances that come into the picture and are then eliminated,” and following comments from senior Iranian military officers threatening war with Israel.

Israel comes to a halt for Yom Kippur
Israel came to a virtual standstill at sundown Tuesday as Jews began observing the start of the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, the 25 hours of fasting and contemplation known as Yom Kippur. Israel’s security establishment and emergency services have been put on high alert Tuesday ahead of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

Russia suspends import and use of American GM corn after study revealed cancer risk
Russia has suspended the import and use of an American GM corn following a study suggesting a link to breast cancer and organ damage. Separately, the European Food Safety Authority(EFSA), has ordered its own review in to the research, which was conducted at a French university.

Mexican Volcano Popocatépetl Eruptions Increase
At least 26 eruptions accompanied by steam and gas, as well as a volcano tectonic quake were registered as a consequence of the Mexican volcano Popocatépetl activity during the last hours, it was reported Tuesday. The National Center of Disaster Prevention (Cenapred) said eruptions were of low and medium intensity with no ash expulsion in any of them.

Five People Suspected to Have Contracted SARS-Like Virus in Denmark
Hospital sources said five people have manifested symptoms of a SARS-like virus. They have been taken and admitted to the Odense University Hospital in central Denmark. The five suspected patients are now undergoing medical examinations for signs of infection from a new strain of corona virus.

Viral Disease Chikungunya Affects 100 Residents in Southern Philippines
A new viral disease “chikungunya” has affected over a hundred residents of two villages in Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Victims showed symptoms such fever, rashes, joint pain. The World Health Organization (WHO) described Chikungunya as a viral disease. It can be transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. The name “Chikungunya” refers to the “stooped” appearance of those suffering with joint pain, WHO added that its symptoms–in the form of high fever, joint pain, joint swelling, rash, headache, muscle pain, nausea, and fatigue–appear between 4 to 7 days after the patient has been bitten by the infected mosquito.

6.2-magnitude earthquake rattles Mexico’s southern Baja California coast
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake rattled the southern part of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula Tuesday and was felt strongly in the city of La Paz.

Egypt paper launches campaign against Prophet Muhammad cartoons
An Egyptian newspaper has launched a campaign against the obscene cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad published by the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo. Al-Watan, a secular daily, published 13 cartoons on Monday under the slogan “Fight cartoons with cartoons”. One shows a pair of glasses through which the burning World Trade Center is seen, with the caption: “Western glasses for the Islamic world”.

New type of Swine Flu detected in Ontario not related to US outbreaks
The infection was caused by an H1N1-variant virus, which is not the swine flu virus that has been jumping from pigs to people in the United States this summer.

U.S. reports first death from new swine flu; 288 cases of H3N2 in the last year
The CDC says the person had multiple health problems, which can raise an individual’s risk of suffering from severe influenza if he or she is infected. The CDC is also reporting an additional 12 human cases of H3N2-variant flu, bringing the total since last July to 288.

Yosemite hantavirus warning now includes 22,000 visitors; 3 dead
U.S. officials recently sounded a worldwide alert, saying that up to 10,000 people were thought to be at risk of contracting hantavirus pulmonary syndrome after staying at the popular Curry Village lodging area between June and August.

New SARS-related virus believed to have killed at least one and left another in critical condition
The germ is a coronavirus, from a family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as SARS, the severe acute respiratory syndrome that killed some 800 people, mostly in Asia, in a 2003 epidemic.

President Obama Declares The Future Must Not Belong to Practicing Christians
the President of the United States declared that the future does not belong to practicing Christians. Already, the media and the left are in full denial, probably based on their general lack of understanding of theology. This would have been a gaffe had Mitt Romney said it. But with Barack Obama, he’s just speaking bold truths.

Earthquake shakes northern Afghanistan
An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 struck in the northern Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan on Tuesday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The quake hit at a depth of 33 kilometres some 48 kilometres (30 miles) southeast of Kunduz, capital of Kunduz province, in the early afternoon, according to a preliminary report by the US Geological Survey.

More countries restrict Internet to stifle critics: report
Government restrictions on the Internet have risen over the past year around the world as regimes use violence against bloggers and turn to censorship and arrest to squelch calls for reform, a new report from a U.S. advocacy group has found. Pakistan, Bahrain and Ethiopia saw the biggest rollbacks in Internet freedom since January 2011 and were among the 20 countries out of 47 assessed by Freedom House that declined in their rankings.

In New York, defiant Ahmadinejad says Israel will be ‘eliminated’
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday Israel has no roots in the Middle East and would be “eliminated,” ignoring a U.N. warning to avoid incendiary rhetoric ahead of the annual General Assembly session. Ahmadinejad also said he did not take seriously the threat that Israel could launch a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, denied sending arms to Syria, and alluded to Iran’s threats to the life of British author Salman Rushdie.

Threats from Iran that it will attack the forces of the U.S. or any country that tries to take out its nuclear program are not mere boasts, experts sa
Security forces will be standing by on Tuesday and Wednesday at cemeteries, synagogues and prayer sites and thousands of police officers will be fully deployed and stationed at city entrances, areas with large crowds and sensitive locations.

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

In Romans 10 Paul lays out how salvation is open to all, Jew and Gentile.  He writes:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4-5

What he is saying is now it is not about works or how closely to a “T” you follow the law.  But that it is through God’s gift of grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is really that simple, and yet a hard step for some of us.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Christ is the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), through faith in Him you will be saved.  It is the only “works” that God requires for eternal salvation.

Read Full Post »

It is amazing how much deception is out there.  It is now the rule and not the exception.

This prophecy is being fulfilled.  Good will be called evil and evil, good.

Every poll out there is skewed.  Every one of them…

This is insane!

Check it out…

Maranatha – Lord, Come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

‘Unskewed’ polls show nearly 8-point Romney lead

NEW YORK – Arguing that most of the major polls reported by establishment media are “skewed” in favor of the Democratic Party and incumbent Barack Obama, a website contends that a true gauge of the presidential race, based on more realistic models, shows Republican challenger Mitt Romney leading by an average of nearly eight points.

In its daily readjustment of the polling data, UnskewedPoll.com also produces a table showing the spread in President Obama’s approval/disapproval ratio is an average of 8.8 percent more disapproval, as of Monday.

Not a single major poll or approval/disapproval index favors Obama when Unskewed.com’s analysis is applied.

The website says there is Democratic bias in polling because of over-sampling Democrats based on voter exit polls in the 2008 presidential election, when enthusiasm for a then relatively unknown but charismatic presidential candidate boosted Democratic Party voter registration and turnout to historic levels.

Race beginning to look a lot like 1980? What might Ronald Reagan’s victory path mean?

undefined

Source: http://unskewedpolls.com/ LV = Likely Voters, RV=Registered Voters, MoE=Margin of Error

(more…)

Read Full Post »

The two articles below outline where we are headed with the fuss being made about the non-existent, unwatched video degrading the prophet Muhammad.  It is a distraction and something to manufacture outrage and create crisis.

It is very obvious to anyone who studies prophecy that we are seeing the beginning stages of fulfillment and some tense times for the US if we do not get out in front of this and stop the train that is steamrolling our freedoms.

You need to be aware of this and look up / research a plan called “The Project”.  A two part documentary is going to be on dish network tonight and tomorrow night at 8pm est and probably the internet by Thursday or Friday.  It is the plan by the Muslim Brotherhood to take over the west and complete their domination and global caliphate.

Read the headline below and think about that for a minute…

They want to Criminalize contempt of Islam!

Freedom of speech gone, freedom of religion gone, freedom in general gone… have any of our media covered this?

Reuters has…

Maranatha – Lord Come Quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

Egypt Salafi urges U.N. to criminalize contempt of Islam

By Marwa Awad

CAIRO | Sat Sep 22, 2012 4:19pm EDT

(Reuters) – Egypt’s president and other Muslim leaders should demand the U.N. criminalize contempt of religion after the release of an anti-Islamic film and cartoons which demonstrate growing racism, said the leader of the biggest ultra-orthodox Islamist party.

Despite doctrinal and political differences with President Mohamed Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood, the Salafist Nour Party played a key role in supporting it during presidential elections in June.

Led by Emad Abdel Ghaffour, it now ranks as the second-largest party in parliament and plays a formidable force in Egypt’s new politics.

“We call for legislation or a resolution to criminalize contempt of Islam as a religion and its Prophet,” said Ghaffour, one of four permanent assistants to the president, on Saturday.

“The voice of reason in the West will prevail if there is mutual respect, dialogue and efficient lobbying for this critical resolution,” he told Reuters in an interview.

(more…)

Read Full Post »

Wow, that is quite a statement.

Those that study prophecy, might have the thought that is is fairly prophetic.

Guess you said those words?

Iran’s – Ahmadinejad?  Egypt’s – Morsi? No

Our very own President Obama.

It is amazing the prophetic nature of today’s headlines.  I would never have guessed two years ago that I would be seeing what my eyes are seeing.

Maranatha – Lord Come Quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

President Obama Declares The Future Must Not Belong to Practicing Christians

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  September 25th, 2012 at 11:20 AM

In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly today the President of the United States declared that the future does not belong to practicing Christians. Already, the media and the left are in full denial, probably based on their general lack of understanding of theology. This would have been a gaffe had Mitt Romney said it. But with Barack Obama, he’s just speaking bold truths. His bold truth declares that the future does not belong to practicing Christians.

Pay careful attention to what he says.

The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam. Yet to be credible, those who condemn that slander must also condemn the hate we see when the image of Jesus Christ is desecrated, churches are destroyed, or the Holocaust is denied. Let us condemn incitement against Sufi Muslims, and Shiite pilgrims. It is time to heed the words of Gandhi: “Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.” Together, we must work towards a world where we are strengthened by our differences, and not defined by them. That is what America embodies, and that is the vision we will support.

Now, that’s the full paragraph so no one can claim I took him out of context.

But consider this.

It is an orthodox Christian belief that Mohammed is not a prophet. Actual Christians, as opposed to many of the supposed Christians put up by the mainstream media, believe that Christ is the only way to salvation. Believing that is slandering Mohammed. That’s just a fact. If you don’t believe me, you go into the Middle East and proclaim Christ is the way, the truth, and the life and see what happens to your life.

(more…)

Read Full Post »

I have been struggling over the last few years with feeling like I don’t fit in to any of the churches we have belonged to.  This has weighed heavily upon me as the Spiritual Leader of my family.  I take the Lord’s word very seriously.

The feeling has just been that things just aren’t right, not foundational enough, as if we are drifting when we try to assimilate with the other members.  I have seen flashes here or there but nothing solid that I feel I want to anchor my family to.

I have been told by friend and family that I just need to get more involved and the reason that I don’t feel comfortable is that I am not truly part of the “family”, but that doesn’t resonate well when I search my heart.  It is deeper than that.  The reasons I have resisted are captured well in the articles below.  I couldn’t have summed them up better.  I feel like I am being called to something bigger, something I can anchor my family on.  I am just not sure where that is.  Until I find out, we will stay immersed in the word of God during this journey, trusting in Him alone.

I share these words and the two articles below in hopes that they resonate with others that are on the same path as me, maybe in a similar state.  I was asked recently how I come up with the posts that I put up here.  I don’t think I answered him clearly at the time but I can tell you I feel led to these topics by the Holy Spirit.

This morning I sat down at six something in the morning (later than normal), and starring through sleep weary eyes at my Bible.  I prayed for the Lord to show me his will and give me discernment as I usually do each day.  I wasn’t sure what part of the word I should read this morning so I started flipping through the new testament of a new Bible I had purchased.  The title of the section for Philippians 3:18 – 4:1 caught my eye.  I can’t even tell you offhand what the title was but I started reading. When I was done, I felt as thought the Lord had shown me what I needed.

Did I know exactly what that was?  No, but I have found through faith that if I ponder those verses throughout the day, He will lead me where He wants me to be.  Some days it is clearer than others.  Today I know it was crystal clear at about 9am.  When I got to about 80% of the way through Tucker’s article below, there it was Philippians 3:18 – 4:1 with the words “stand fast” underlined.  It all became clear.  The other articles I had highlighted to post later today aligned perfectly to what I read and was feeling in my soul.

Again, I share this because I want others to know that the Holy Spirit does work in our lives every day.  Is it a voice from above, a vision, or a dream?  No, nothing that dramatic for me, it is simply a feeling, a thought, or a prompting, that if I listen to it (this is key) then I can know God’s will for me that day and feel at peace.

We need to quiet this noisy, busy world and slow down enough to hear it.  And it isn’t going to be something large most of the time.  There is a reason Jesus used the analogy of sowing seeds.  Seeds are small, tiny in a lot of cases, but they grow into enormous plants.  The same is true of the gospel, we are simply asked to sow the seeds (i.e. plant the seed).  God’s word and the Holy Spirit make it grow. So maybe this post and article are the seed for someone, or maybe you are feeling the same as me and this encourages you as it did me to stand strong, stand fast.

We ARE being called to be part of His Remnant Church.  I feel the call.  Do you?

Maranatha! – Lord Come Quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

The Rise of the Remnant Church I

By Tucker Whitaker


Definition: Remnant – that which remains, or is set apart. A distinct part of a larger whole.

In these last days, I believe God is still doing a work that will impact the world. I believe He is calling out a Holy Remnant Church, dedicated to Jesus Christ and focused on doing His work during these last days. I believe God is raising up a church that is committed to Him and His cause who are a holy remnant, a group of people who are steadfast and sure of their God.

The Remnant Church I’m speaking of has no relationship to replacement theology, nor to the Adventist remnant theology, nor to the theology of the modern day Judaizers who claim to be Christians yet require adherence to Old Testament Jewish laws. The Remnant Church is at the core of the True Church… the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ set apart from the apostate churches that dominate the world today.

Today, many are witnessing, and are becoming a part of an interesting phenomenon, where folks are leaving the structure and security of “traditional” organized churches, denominations and memberships, to follow hard after God. This extraordinary migration is little understood by establishment Christianity.

Perhaps the Lord Jesus Christ is calling His Remnant Church to Himself at the end of this age to worship and teach in simplicity and doctrinal purity. Perhaps the desire to be obedient to the Word and to understand Bible Prophecy and to fulfill the great commission and the great commandment has birthed an early church understanding of what it truly means to follow Christ. Perhaps God is preparing a people to stand and hold forth truth in a world where people and “churches” are consumed with materialism, prosperity, self centered pursuits and desires, and tolerance for those things that are unbiblical. Perhaps a time of final testing for the true church and Israel is upon us, a time for the Remnant Church to “Stand” for Christ. Whatever the ultimate reason, folks are coming out, and almost immediately they understand the need to adapt to this new and extraordinary environment where the Sufficiency of Christ is taught, that Christ alone is indeed all they need.

Today, the mainstream churches have turned away from the gospel and are full of wickedness; they have embraced the world and humanistic ideals. In what were the houses of God, there is no power or spiritual authority, and in fact, there is no presence of the Lord at all. But I believe there is a remnant of people, a Remnant Church, comprised of those who are diligently seeking to understand the scriptures, all of God’s Word.

The Remnant Church is that part of the Body of Jesus Christ that knows they are sons of God, and that are hearing from and following the leading of His Holy Spirit. Within the Remnant Church there is coming a deeper intimacy (more…)

Read Full Post »

Did you know in the Jewish Talmud (Sanhedrin 97b) that there is a list of ten signs called the “Birthpangs of the Messiah”?

Modern rabbis admit they don’t know why the signs are called this but as Christians, especially Christians that are “watchmen” and study prophecy, these should be very familiar.  See what you think.

Birthpangs of the Messiah – (Talmud, Sanhedrin 97b)

  1. The Jews will return to their biblical homeland and the desert will bloom.
  2. The world will be in a state of complete degradation.
  3. Truth will decrease and lies will prevail.
  4. Inflation will be out of control.
  5. There will be fewer and fewer wise and righteous people.
  6. Many Jews will give up the hope of redemption.
  7. The young will treat the old with disrespect.
  8. Learning will be rejected because people will desire a life of ease.
  9. The whole world will turn against Israel.
  10. The Jews will fight each other (the secular against the religious).

The Talmud also adds that God will defeat Israels enemies in the war of Gog and Magog and confirm the nation of Israel is God’s chosen people (Ezekiel 38 and 39).

Is that amazing or what?!

It is like a checklist of what we are seeing today.

Not one of those items listed is not being done today and/or at some point of fulfillment.

We as Christians recognize these as the birthpangs that Jesus and his disciples wrote about to describe the time leading up to the tribulation, book-ended by the formation of Israel in 1948 and the climax at the confirming of the seven year peace agreement to officially begin the tribulation period and Daniel’s 79th week.

The good news for us is that Christ will return before that time to remove His church (bride) from this world to protect us from the coming wrath.

Maranatha – Lord come quickly!

-myblessedhope

_________________________________________________________________

Excerpts from the post above were taken from a book by Ken Johnson, “The Rapture pg 48.  It is an amazing book that I would recommend everyone to purchase through the hyperlink above.

_________________________________________________________________

If you have not asked Christ into your life, the essential gospel is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and that He was raised on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4).  Believing this is the only qualification for salvation.  We are sinners in need of a savior.  Jesus died for our sins, and to prove that His death was sufficient for us,  God raised Him from the dead on the third day. Believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead is our assurance that He will raise us, too.
 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Cor. 15:3-4). 

 

Read Full Post »

Pieces of the puzzle falling together, Jack does a good job of laying them out for all to see…

_________________________________________________________________

The Coming Leader

by Jack Kelly


He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people.  He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power (Daniel 8:24-25).

When he first comes on the scene he’ll quickly garner the world’s attention.  More that just being likeable, he’ll be seen as a man with a brilliant future ahead of him, a charismatic personality who will immediately attract and hold everyone’s interest. And when he takes center stage after the Battle of Ezekiel 38, many will believe he has the solution to all their problems.  In a world reeling under the twin disasters of the mysterious disappearance of millions of Christians and the outbreak of nuclear war in the Middle East, he’ll be a voice of calmness and reassurance.  If it seems to them like he has an almost supernatural ability to get control of things and lead the way to peace, it will be because he does.  He’s Satan’s man, masquerading as the savior of the world.

In an early success, he’ll broker a treaty in the Middle East that will astound everyone (Daniel 9:27), causing the recently defeated Muslim nations to agree to the building of a Temple in Israel.  Using Ezekiel 48 as his authority, he’ll show everyone involved that the new Temple doesn’t belong on the current Temple mount, but slightly more than 20 miles to the north in Shiloh.  Sharing a space with the Dome of the Rock and the al Aksa mosque will not be required. After thousands of years of strife, it will appear that peace has finally come to that war torn part of the world.

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest (Rev. 6:2).

Not everyone will immediately be convinced to line up behind him, and for those who aren’t, conquest will be the answer.  He’ll justify the need for war by convincing them that a lasting peace depends on everyone submitting to the authority of a single government.  Those who don’t come willingly will have to be persuaded.

(more…)

Read Full Post »

Christ told us to make sure not to be deceived.  We need to know a man (or government) by their fruit (actions), not their words.  We have really alienated our best and only ally in the middle east.  Spiritually, we are going down the path of Zechariah 12:3.

_________________________________________________________________

Sep 17, 2012

Obama Breaks with Israel

The day Barack Obama was elected the president of the United States, I knew this event would prove to be disastrous for America-Israeli relations. Because there has been a strong link between our two nations for decades, it would be no small task for one man to break this bond. As of this past week, Obama has done as much as is humanly possible to create division between Washington and Jerusalem.

We are now at the point where there is an open feud between the US and Israel over Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to set a deadline for Iran to stop in its quest to build an atomic bomb. Obama doesn’t want any deadline, choosing to allow sanctions to run their course.

Netanyahu warned the White House that Israel can’t afford to play games with Iran. He said in one interview, “The world tells Israel, `Wait. There’s still time.’… And I say: `Wait for what? Wait until when?’ Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines before Iran don’t have a moral right to place a red light before Israel.”

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta pushed back at Netanyahu, saying, “We know generally what they’re up to, and so we keep a close track on them. We think we will have the opportunity once we know that they’ve made that decision [to] take the action necessary to stop [Iran].”

It is just insane for us to entertain the idea that Iran’s desire for a nuclear program is for some legitimate purpose. The Iranians have a 100-year supply of cheap oil, so it is ridiculous for them to say they need nuclear energy to power their cities.

(more…)

Read Full Post »

God is amazing, I just finished reading this article by Jack Kelly on the exact topic I wrote yesterday morning.  Jack does an amazing job connecting the dots on what we are seeing unfold.

_________________________________________________________________

Why Ezekiel 38 Will Precede Daniel 9

 by Jack Kelly


“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.

“Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble” (Daniel 9:24-25).

Dispensationalists believe, with good reason, that there’s one week of years left to fulfill from the promise the angel Gabriel delivered to Daniel near the end of the Babylonian captivity.  We know the prophecy as Daniel’s 70 weeks.  Each week in the prophecy represents 7 years.  69 of these weeks (7 plus 62) had passed when the Messiah presented Himself to Israel as their King on the only day in His life that He did so.  On our calendar it became known as the first Palm Sunday.

In the prophecy 69 weeks equals 483 years (69 x 7).  This is the exact time that had passed since Artaxerxes Longimonus issued his decree giving Nehemiah permission to begin rebuilding Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-10).  (The city had been destroyed when Nebuchadnezzar’s army conquered Judah and took its people captive to Babylon.)  Daniel’s prophecy was being fulfilled in specific detail, and Israel’s failure to realize this marked the beginning of the end for them (Luke 19:41-44).

After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed (Daniel 9:26).

The Hebrew word for Anointed One is Messiah.  Four days after He presented Himself to them,  they executed Him, which is what the Hebrew word translated “cut off” means.  Nothing the angel Gabriel had promised to Mary (Luke 1:32-33) had come to pass.  Three days after that He rose again, fulfilling a sign He had promised to the religious leaders to prove His authenticity, the sign of the prophet Jonah (Matt. 12:39-40). He gave them 40 days to recognize the most dramatic fulfillment of a prophetic sign in the history of mankind and accept Him as their Messiah, and when they didn’t He ascended into Heaven, fulfilling another prophecy in the process.

Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt.  And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me” (Hosea 5:15)

About 38 years after that the Roman armies destroyed the city and the sanctuary, and for all practical purposes the nation of Israel ceased to exist.  But a few years before that happened, the Jewish leadership of the Christian movement called the Church had become divided over the issue of whether Gentiles who were coming into Christianity had to put themselves under the Law first.  In other words did a Gentile have to become a Jew before becoming a Christian?  The unspoken question that lurked behind it was even more troublesome to them, and that was, “If not, what’s to become of Israel?” They had been taught that the only way to God was through Israel.  Was this being changed?

The Council At Jerusalem

They all came together in Jerusalem, where James, the Lord’s half brother and head of the Church in Jerusalem set them straight. Israel is being temporarily set aside, he told them, while the Lord takes out of the Gentiles a people for Himself. After that He will restore Israel to allow the remnant of mankind one more chance to seek Him (Acts 15:13-18).  Therefore, Gentiles would not be required to convert to Judaism in the process of becoming Christians.

The Greek word translated “take” in Acts 15:14 means to carry away for one’s own purpose and the  one translated “out of” means to remove from a specified time and place.  Before restoring Israel to fellowship with Him, the Lord will take a people for Himself out of the time and place of the Gentiles.  James was describing the rapture of the Church and saying it will precede Daniel’s 70th Week.

Paul, who was at the meeting, confirmed this by saying Israel has been blinded in part until the full number of Gentiles has come in. After that Israel will be saved (Romans 11:25).  As I’ve indicated in previous studies this is another testimony that the rapture of the church will precede Israel’s restoration and redemption.  From these two prophecies we understand that Israel’s rejection of the Messiah did not end the Old Covenant.  It merely interrupted its 490 year post exilic duration 7 years short of its allotted time.  After the Church is gone this seven years has to be completed.

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him” (Daniel 9:27).

The final seven years  will begin with a covenant to be signed by the “ruler who will come”, mentioned in Daniel 9:26.  Gabriel said this leader will come from the people who would destroy the city and the sanctuary after the Messiah’s execution.  In the middle of this last seven years He will put an end to sacrifices and offerings by setting up the Abomination of Desolation which kicks off the 3 ½ year Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:15-21).

Put this all together and you can begin to see why I believe the Rapture of the Church will precede the beginning of Daniel’s missing 70th week.  According to these prophecies the church has to be gone before Israel returns to their covenant relationship with the Lord.

And That’s Not All

But my main purpose in reviewing all this with you is to find the answer to one very important question, and here it is.  What event will suddenly cause Israel, currently a predominantly secular  nation, to officially restore their Old Covenant relationship with God? The study of human nature tells us that while people typically fall away from their beliefs gradually, they don’t come back to them the same way.  Usually, some external change or event, often catastrophic in nature, has to take place to snap them back.  And so it will be for Israel.

And remember, it has to be a return to the Old Covenant because they’re seven years short of completing the time God allotted to them, and the only reason they will need a Temple is for the purpose of Old Covenant worship.  If it was the rapture of the Church that gets their attention they’d be motivated to enter a New Covenant relationship rather than return to the Old Covenant. Something else has to happen . And it will.

An unexpected event that will threaten Israel’s very existence is set to take place soon and God will use it to bring them running as a nation to Him, ending a 2000 year estrangement. This event won’t be a protracted one that causes them to slowly conclude that they’re doomed and drive them to their knees in a desperate plea for help.  Rather it will be one orchestrated and executed  by God Himself for the specific purpose of opening spiritual eyes that have been blinded since that first Palm sunday.   It will happen so fast that they won’t realize what has transpired until it’s all over.

God will cause a coalition of enemy forces to strike with out warning in such numbers that it will seem like a cloud has covered the land, and when they do, He will decimate them with torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulphur.  Then He’ll sew such confusion in the ranks that they’ll turn on each other.  When it’s over there will be so many dead bodies that it will take Israel seven months just to bury them all.

Of course the event I’m referring to is the Battle of Ezekiel 38-39. Four times during Ezekiel’s prophecy of this battle God’s objective was made clear.  Ezekiel 38:23, 39:7, 39:22, 39:28 all tell us His goal is to  show His greatness and holiness to Israel and the nations so Israel will know He’s the Lord their God. This is the event that will cause Israel’s national reconciliation with God and kick off the remaining seven years of the Old Covenant.

Today there appears to be a  growing desire among some in Israel for a Temple.  But if you read between the lines you’ll see it’s a nationalistic movement, not a spiritual one.  Advocates are hoping a Temple will underscore their right to the land by demonstrating their historical presence there.  But this movement is by no means reflective of the national mind set. Most people realize the danger in such a thing.

But after the Battle of Ezekiel 38, the demand for a Temple will be a spiritual movement that will represent the great majority of people in Israel. They’ll want to worship the God they’ve rediscovered and Old Covenant worship requires a Temple. It won’t be just a monument to their past but a necessity for their future.  And with the great victory God will have just handed them, who will dare to deny them? Even the coming world leader will appear to be championing their cause, enforcing a covenant that will allow them to build their Temple.  To Israel it will seem like peace has finally come.

One More Time

Sad to say, the Battle of Ezekiel 38 won’t result in a permanent peace for Israel.  They’ll discover they’ve been deceived by the very one who they thought to be their champion, bringing about the worst period of persecution the Jewish people have ever known.  And this time when foreign nations are mobilized against them, it won’t be just a regional coalition.  Zechariah 12:3 says all the nations of the world will line up against Israel. This time Israel will know in advance what their fate will likely be and  will come crawling to God for help (Hosea 6:1-2).

This time God won’t just use His signature weapons of rain, hail, earthquakes and fire that He can deliver from afar.  Nor will He sow confusion into the enemy’s mind to have them defeat themselves.  This time He’ll fill the sky with the armies of heaven, with His own Son at their head. The Son will slay them all with just the Word of His mouth.  This time they won’t spend multiple months burying the dead.  This time the birds will devour the carcasses (Rev. 19:11-21).

This time will be different because this time it won’t be only the Father they will have recognized.  This time it will be the Son as well (Zech 12:10).  The reconciliation will finally be complete and the Kingdom Age will begin.   You can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah 09-08-12.

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

If you’re not certain you’re saved, here is what you should do, right now:
  1. Acknowledge that you have sinned against a holy God and ask for forgiveness (even if you don’t feel you deserve it) (Rom. 3:23).  Genuinely feel the pain of your sin and be willing to turn from it (repent) (Acts 3:19).
  2. Believe in your heart and mind that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for you (John 3:1-18) in your place, and was raised back to life.  There is no one else you can turn to (John 14:6): “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”
  3. Confess that you are trusting Jesus as your personal Savior.  Since Jesus is alive, you can talk to him.  This is called prayer.  So talk to him right now, in your own words, accept his invitation to know him.
It’s simple faith through grace, the kind of faith a little child would have.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
Welcome brother or sister in Christ!  This is just the start of the journey, we are called to live in this world but not be of this world.  Begin studying God’s word (the Bible) daily to give you the strength and wisdom to live this calling out.  There are many sites like this that can help you as well.

Read Full Post »

Great pair of updates this week with a bonus update on Thursday…

_________________________________________________________________

——————–

——————–

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

If you’re not certain you’re saved, here is what you should do, right now:
  1. Acknowledge that you have sinned against a holy God and ask for forgiveness (even if you don’t feel you deserve it) (Rom. 3:23).  Genuinely feel the pain of your sin and be willing to turn from it (repent) (Acts 3:19).
  2. Believe in your heart and mind that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for you (John 3:1-18) in your place, and was raised back to life.  There is no one else you can turn to (John 14:6): “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”
  3. Confess that you are trusting Jesus as your personal Savior.  Since Jesus is alive, you can talk to him.  This is called prayer.  So talk to him right now, in your own words, accept his invitation to know him.
It’s simple faith through grace, the kind of faith a little child would have.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
Welcome brother or sister in Christ!  This is just the start of the journey, we are called to live in this world but not be of this world.  Begin studying God’s word (the Bible) daily to give you the strength and wisdom to live this calling out.  There are many sites like this that can help you as well.

Read Full Post »

…but put aside for a taking of the Gentiles.

The Lord this morning placed on my heart the following topic.  Romans 11 was front and center.

One of the great deceptions out there these days is that God’s promises to Israel have been transferred to the Church and in essence the Church has replaced Israel.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

It is important that this not be the case for if God’s everlasting covenant with Israel is, well, not everlasting.  Then what does that say about his everlasting promises to the Church?  Will the Holy Spirit be sealed in us now and forever more?

Israel and the Church both have covenants with God; both are unique but with a shared history and root system.  This is understandable since God is the same: past, present, and future.  Israel’s covenant is through “the law and the prophets”, Old Testament.  The Church’s covenant is through belief and faith in Christ, God’s Grace, and the Holy Spirit.

Israel’s 70 weeks were interrupted one week short of fulfillment, this is outlined in Daniel 9.  Paul lays out the reason for this in Romans 11.

Romans 11

New King James Version (NKJV)

Israel’s Rejection Not Total

11 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?[a] But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[b] Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.[c] But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written:

“God has given them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes that they should not see
And ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.”[d]

And David says:

“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
A stumbling block and a recompense to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,
And bow down their back always.”[e]

Israel’s Rejection Not Final

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness,[f] if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved,[g] as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”[h]

28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?”[i]
35 “Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”[j]

36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

This world has only one covenant going at a time so for God to keep His word (which He always does) but still save the Gentiles (since He wishes that none shall parish), the Jewish covenant was put on hold with their rejection of His Son.  Once the Jewish people rejected Christ and He died on the cross for our sins, the old covenant was put on hold and the new covenant began.  The temple curtain was torn signifying we all now had access to God directly through faith in His Son Jesus Christ, Jew and Gentile.

The temple shortly after was destroyed and the Jewish nation was dispersed for a time until in 1948 when they were gathered as a nation (Ezekiel 37).  This has never happened before that a nation of people were completely dispersed and later reformed, language and all, but with God all things are possible.  God keeps His word, and His covenants; everlasting covenants.

So we saw the super sign in 1948.  Prophetically, Israel was gathered and shall be a nation ever more, never to be divided again with Jerusalem as their undivided capital.  Though this world will try, Jerusalem will be like a burdensome stone to all who try to divide her or stand against Israel (Zechariah 12:3).

See Israel is preparing herself to complete the last remaining week of God’s everlasting covenant, Daniel’s 70th week.  To do this they must complete the gathering together, rebuild their temple, and turn back to God by humbling themselves and depending on God for protection and direction.  These events will happen you have God’s word on it.  Psalm’s 83 and Ezekiel 38-39 will probably play a role as well as Zechariah 12:3.

All nations will stand against her for if you are not for her you are against her.  Yes, even the US will stand against her by not being with her.  Something you are seeing play out right now.

But remember what I mentioned about the covenants on this earth, only one can be a place at once so there is another big sign coming that will need to occur before God’s everlasting covenant with Israel can begin.  The churches covenant must be completed.  We will be taken up to be with the Lord always, our wedding banquet, and marriage to Christ.

Once the church is removed, the Holy Spirit (the Restrainer) is removed and the 70th week is free to begin.  How fast things will move at that point.  The only ones left will not stand for Israel or God.  You saw the vote at the DNC; if not scroll down and find my post on it.

They denied God and Israel (Jerusalem) three times, that is important, it foreshadows what is to come.  Three is important.  Peter denied Christ three times and Christ asked Peter three times if he believed in Him.  It is a sign folks.

Christ will come soon for His church at an hour no one knows.  But we do know the season and we are in it.  And Israel is reforming, rising to start back up their covenant with God.  The entire world is focused on one little nation, just as God said they would.  All eyes are on Jerusalem and Israel.

They are important.

Why?

Because God promised they would be and He always keeps His promises – everlasting covenants.

—————————————————————————————————————————

If you’re not certain you’re saved, here is what you should do, right now:
  1. Acknowledge that you have sinned against a holy God and ask for forgiveness (even if you don’t feel you deserve it) (Rom. 3:23).  Genuinely feel the pain of your sin and be willing to turn from it (repent) (Acts 3:19).
  2. Believe in your heart and mind that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for you (John 3:1-18) in your place, and was raised back to life.  There is no one else you can turn to (John 14:6): “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”
  3. Confess that you are trusting Jesus as your personal Savior.  Since Jesus is alive, you can talk to him.  This is called prayer.  So talk to him right now, in your own words, accept his invitation to know him.
It’s simple faith through grace, the kind of faith a little child would have.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
Welcome brother or sister in Christ!  This is just the start of the journey, we are called to live in this world but not be of this world.  Begin studying God’s word (the Bible) daily to give you the strength and wisdom to live this calling out.  There are many sites like this that can help you as well.

Read Full Post »

Deception and Delusion.

It is what to me signifies most that we are living in the end times the Christ so many times stated: Do not be deceived.

There has always been deception in this world, it is Satan’s biggest weapon but we have not see it to this magnitude or mainstream.

It is front and center and it most cases I think you can call it the normal, with the Truth being the exception.

So many Americans and people around the world are believing the deception, which is so obvious if you just stop and take 30 seconds to look at the facts.

This is why I say the delusion the Lord spoke of is also upon us.

Facts:

  • Movie has been posted since July 2nd.
  • Attacks “spontaneously” occurred on the 9/11.
  • We have other films, bigger films, that do the same thing.
  • Attackers had intel on where ambassador would be and used a coordinated attack with Machine Guns and RPG’s.
  • The ambassador had just gotten back in town that day from Europe.

Based on those facts you read in 30 seconds, does it still seem to be a spontaneously event based on outrage at an internet YouTube movie?

The article below does an excellent job laying out they hypocrisy and where we find ourselves as a nation.

_________________________________________________________________

Anti-Islam Filmmaker Donated Million Dollars To Obama Campaign

Blame the movie.

Blame the movie.

Blame the movie.

Even though “the movie” was on YouTube for months prior to the collective indignation of thousands of Middle Eastern Islamists all coming together on the eleventh anniversary of September 11th  (through wild coincidence, no doubt), we are being told by our government and our media overlords that we must blame the movie.

You see, if we blame the movie for the burning of our foreign outposts and the brutal murders of four Americans (including our Libyan ambassador who was reportedly raped), we won’t blame the burners and the looters and the murderers and the rapists.

You see, if we blame the movie for the Middle East burning, we won’t blame the Islamists who are doing the burning and looting and raping and murdering.

Which means we won’t further connect the dots and blame Obama’s failed Middle East policy; the Obama Doctrine of backing away from the region and allowing events to unfold as America stands idly by — as the Islamists in the Muslim Brotherhood grab hold of power in Egypt, a country that was once our largest and closest ally.

Blame the filmmaker.

Hunt him.

Out him.

Demonize him.

Burn the straw man!

And all at the direction of a president of the United States who has sworn to uphold the Constitution, you know, the same Constitution that treasures the right of free expression and speech above all else.

But no one asks … What about Bill Maher?

Bill Maher?

Bill Maher made a comedy/documentary called “Religulous” that’s most famous for mercilessly mocking Christianity. But what people forget is that the last twenty-minutes or so of the film make a damning case against Islam.

Bill Maher made a film that mocked Islam.

Oh, yes, he did.

Bill Maher also contributed $1 million to a pro-Obama super PAC.

And I’m sure that upon being reminded of this, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will tremble with self-righteous indignation and demand Maher take his money back.

After all, if movies create the terrorists who in turn create the terrorism, what about Bill Maher?

And what if the terrorists learn that the president of the United States is benefitting from a million dollar contribution  given by a filmmaker who mocked Islam? How will Hillary Clinton claim with any credibility that the United States government has no connection to this outrage? How will White House spokesman Jay Carney say this with any credibility:

“The reason why there is unrest is because of the film,” he said at one point.  “This is in response to the film.”  At another moment, he said, “The cause of the unrest was a video.”  At yet another, “These protests were in reaction to a video that had spread to the region.”

And the lapdog media just can’t stop humping a leg of lies.

It’s weird, though, isn’t it?

I mean, how Hollywood has been silent in its defense of the filmmaker Obama is currently scapegoating (and in some cases, Hollywood is grabbing a torch), even as they embrace Bill Maher.

Well, I guess some anti-Islamic filmmakers are more equal than others.

And thank heavens, we have Barack Obama to tell us who the more equal ones are.

 

Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

If you’re not certain you’re saved, here is what you should do, right now:
  1. Acknowledge that you have sinned against a holy God and ask for forgiveness (even if you don’t feel you deserve it) (Rom. 3:23).  Genuinely feel the pain of your sin and be willing to turn from it (repent) (Acts 3:19).
  2. Believe in your heart and mind that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for you (John 3:1-18) in your place, and was raised back to life.  There is no one else you can turn to (John 14:6): “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”
  3. Confess that you are trusting Jesus as your personal Savior.  Since Jesus is alive, you can talk to him.  This is called prayer.  So talk to him right now, in your own words, accept his invitation to know him.
It’s simple faith through grace, the kind of faith a little child would have.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
Welcome brother or sister in Christ!  This is just the start of the journey, we are called to live in this world but not be of this world.  Begin studying God’s word (the Bible) daily to give you the strength and wisdom to live this calling out.  There are many sites like this that can help you as well.

Read Full Post »

Key headlines for today… some big ones…

_________________________________________________________________

Don’t attack Iran, Russia starkly warns Israel and U.S.
Russia has starkly warned Israel and the United States against attacking Iran, saying Moscow sees no evidence that Tehran’s nuclear program is aimed at developing weapons, the Interfax news agency reported on Thursday.

Syrian General: We’re Protecting Europe from Islamists
A Syrian general in charge of operations in west Aleppo has told AFP that Europeans are exhibiting “blindness” in supporting the rebels against President Bashar Assad’s regime. Assad’s forces are “the last dam that is holding back the flood of Islamists in Europe,” he said.

Savage: Dems rejection of God ‘the turning point’
“Can you imagine, a nation founded on the principles of God is being taken over by a party that despises God, denies God’s existence and wants to stab Israel in the back in order to support the Islamists who would kill the Jews and drive them out of the Middle East?

Invisible Russian submarine
In June-July, the Akula-class submarine, an attack warship capable of carrying long-range ballistic missiles, travelled in the Gulf of Mexico patrolling the US coast. The US satellites and hydro-acoustic sensors failed to spot it. The US Navy spotted only the submarine’s tail when it was leaving the waters of the Gulf.

Fuji time bomb: Volcano to erupt under pressure
Japanese scientists predict Mt. Fuji will blow due to new tectonic pressures that are higher than when the volcano last erupted more than 300 years ago. Estimates say the eruption will affect more than 400,000 people and cost over $30 billion.

Drought Withers U.S. Corn Crop, Heats Debate on Ethanol
Predictions for a bumper crop in May withered 26 percent by August. Scarcity has pushed corn prices to all-time highs. Farmers are plowing under scorched fields, and cornhusks are blowing across roads. The mandate, meanwhile, amounts to a requirement that 42 percent of this year’s crop be pumped into gas tanks.

New energy between Cold War foes Turkey, Russia
Russia and Turkey, which were Cold War adversaries, are finding common ground on energy despite ongoing diplomatic disputes. Turkey has agreed to allow Russia’s South Stream gas pipeline to cross its territorial waters, and Russia is investing $20 billion to construct Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.-“It has been a relationship driven by mutual economic gain.”

Islam’s Ancient Divide Fuels Middle East Conflicts
They began as a cry for freedom in the Middle East, but the Arab rebellions have become increasingly characterized by an ancient sectarian conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. SPIEGEL examines how the power struggle between the two groups is sparking new fears along old frontlines.

US congressman confirms high-level US-Israel spat over Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blew up at the US ambassador last month because he was “at wits’ end” over what he sees as the Obama administration’s lack of clarity on Iran’s nuclear program, a US congressman who was at the meeting said.

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

If you’re not certain you’re saved, here is what you should do, right now:
  1. Acknowledge that you have sinned against a holy God and ask for forgiveness (even if you don’t feel you deserve it) (Rom. 3:23).  Genuinely feel the pain of your sin and be willing to turn from it (repent) (Acts 3:19).
  2. Believe in your heart and mind that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for you (John 3:1-18) in your place, and was raised back to life.  There is no one else you can turn to (John 14:6): “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”
  3. Confess that you are trusting Jesus as your personal Savior.  Since Jesus is alive, you can talk to him.  This is called prayer.  So talk to him right now, in your own words, accept his invitation to know him.
It’s simple faith through grace, the kind of faith a little child would have.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
Welcome brother or sister in Christ!  This is just the start of the journey, we are called to live in this world but not be of this world.  Begin studying God’s word (the Bible) daily to give you the strength and wisdom to live this calling out.  There are many sites like this that can help you as well.

Read Full Post »

Folks, I know we live in a sound bite society, but can we step back from this sound bite headline and ponder it for a second?

They said NO to including God in their platform.  Three times!

Ponder that…

We are living in the end times.  No other time in our countries history would we have ever said no to including God’s name just once.  Not as a major pillar, just a single mention in a binder worth of pages…

They didn’t want it stated: “God-given potential”

We are talking about one of our two major political parties.

The party that is currently in control of our country.

They said NO, we do not want to include God or Jerusalem in our charter of beliefs.

Just ponder that, let it soak in…

This is a mind-blowing sign of where we find ourselves on God’s prophetic timeline…

_________________________________________________________________

——————–

——————–

CBN NEWS – Guess what? God’s name has been removed from the Democratic National Committee platform.

This is the paragraph that was in the 2008 platform:

“We need a government that stands up for the hopes, values, and interests of working people, and gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential.”

Now the words “God-given” have been removed. The paragraph has been restructured to say this:

“We gather to reclaim the basic bargain that built the largest middle class and the most prosperous nation on Earth – the simple principle that in America, hard work should pay off, responsibility should be rewarded, and each one of us should be able to go as far as our talent and drive take us.”

The Brody File has calls into DNC to explain why God’s name has been dropped from the platform. Some critics will suggest that when you have planks in your platform that support abortion rights and gay marriage then it’s no wonder that God’s name would be dropped as well.

Delegates will vote on the platform on Tuesday.

_________________________________________________________________

Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

If you’re not certain you’re saved, here is what you should do, right now:
  1. Acknowledge that you have sinned against a holy God and ask for forgiveness (even if you don’t feel you deserve it) (Rom. 3:23).  Genuinely feel the pain of your sin and be willing to turn from it (repent) (Acts 3:19).
  2. Believe in your heart and mind that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for you (John 3:1-18) in your place, and was raised back to life.  There is no one else you can turn to (John 14:6): “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”
  3. Confess that you are trusting Jesus as your personal Savior.  Since Jesus is alive, you can talk to him.  This is called prayer.  So talk to him right now, in your own words, accept his invitation to know him.
It’s simple faith through grace, the kind of faith a little child would have.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
Welcome brother or sister in Christ!  This is just the start of the journey, we are called to live in this world but not be of this world.  Begin studying God’s word (the Bible) daily to give you the strength and wisdom to live this calling out.  There are many sites like this that can help you as well.

Read Full Post »

Christians are under attack, unbelievable what is going on under the radar.  Our media is absolutely complicit.  It should be treason.  Imagine what this place “earth” will be like after the church is raptured.  The restrainer will have been removed.  Imagine how fast things will move away from God…

_________________________________________________________________

Obama minions: Gov’t ‘can override your religion’

Court brief says corporations not allowed to reflect faith of their owners

by Bob Unruh

The Obama administration today argued in court that the government can make a requirement that violates religious beliefs and that a company cannot reflect the religious faith of its owners.

The administration’s statements came in a court filing that asserts the federal government has the authority to order private companies to provide abortifacients for their employees.

A case against the order was brought by the Thomas More Law Center on behalf of Legatus, the nation’s largest organization of top Catholic business leaders, and Weingartz Supply and its owner.

The Department of Justice attorneys argued the challenge by Weingartz Supply Company and its owners “rests largely on the theory that a self-described secular corporation established to sell outdoor power equipment can claim to exercise religion and thereby avoid the reach of laws designed to regulate commercial activity.”

“This cannot be.”

The federal attorneys – Stuart F. Delery, Barbara L. McQaude, Sheila M. Lieber, Michelle Bennett and Ethan P. Davis – are arguing in federal court in Michigan against a request for a preliminary injunction that would prevent the enforcement of an Obamacare mandate requiring employers to provide such abortifacients through health programs for employees.

The plaintiffs argue that the federal order conflicts with the U.S. Constitution by requiring them to violate their religious faith.

(more…)

Read Full Post »

Facinating first hand knowledge of what went on in the recent explosive meeting between the US and Israel.  We get to peel back the wrapper a bit on whats really going on between our administration and Israel’s leaders.  Not good news but a great story…

_________________________________________________________________

Intelligence Committee Chair Describes Explosive Confrontation Between Netanyahu and American Ambassador

By Jeffrey Goldberg

Sep 6 2012, 2:57 PM ET

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro allegedly argued over the Obama’s administration’s Iran policy.

BIBI.jpg

(Reuters)

Rep. Mike Rogers, the Michigan Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, says that his much-discussed meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem late last month did, in fact, devolve into an sharp confrontation between Netanyahu and the American ambassador to Israel, the former National Security Council official (and former Obama campaign Jewish liaison), Dan Shapiro.

Rogers told a Michigan radio interviewer earlier this week that he had not previously witnessed such a high-level confrontation, and he described Israeli leaders as being at “wits’ end” over what they see as President Obama’s unwillingness to provide them with his “red lines” in the effort to stop Iran’s nuclear program. He also said that neither the Israelis nor the Iranians believe that Obama would use force to stop the nuclear program. (UPDATE: Rogers said as well he believes the Israelis will “probably” bomb Iran if they don’t get clearer red lines from the U.S.)

Rogers description of the meeting directly contradicts repeated Administration assertions that there is “no daylight” on the Iran issue with the Israeli government. Shortly after the meeting took place, Israeli press reports appeared suggesting  that Netanyahu and Shapiro had engaged in an argument, but Shapiro soon dismissed those reports, calling them “silly” and saying, “The published account of that meeting did not reflect what actually occurred in the meeting. The conversations were entirely friendly and professional.”

Rogers, speaking to WJR radio host Frank Beckmann, painted a very different picture. He said the meeting, originally scheduled to be a discussion of intelligence and technical issues between himself and the prime minister, spun out of control when Netanyahu began lambasting Shapiro over the Administration’s Iran policy. When Beckmann asked Rogers to describe the tenor of the meeting, he said: “Very tense. Some very sharp… exchanges and it was very, very clear the Israelis had lost their patience with the (Obama) Administration.” He went on, “There was no doubt. You could not walk out of that meeting and think that they had not lost their patience with this Administration.”

Rogers said Israeli frustration grows from what they see — and he sees — as a refusal by the Obama Administration to outline an endgame: “(I)t was very clear the overarching policy has been frustrating mainly because I think it’s not very clear. What we walked out of that meeting knowing is that the Administration was trying to defend itself.” By the end, he said, there was a “sharp exchange between the Administration’s representative there, our ambassador there, and Mr. Netanyahu, which was unusual to say the least, but I thought at the end of the day maybe productive.”

(more…)

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »