Sometimes the devil doesn't tempt us with evil; sometimes he allures us with good, distracts us with obligations, confuses us with compromise, or hinders us with business to keep us from that which is best- service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Remember, the devil always offers his best, before Christ will offer His will for your life.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Bible Prophecy and History



This is by no means an exhaustive study. There are many more passages in the Bible that prophesied about events before they happened, and many other passages that are still yet to happen. 

Jewish people go into captivity to Babylon- Written around 626 BC;  Happened 606 BC
Jeremiah 25:11-12- And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

Cyrus conquers Babylon and allows the Jews to return to their homeland- Written between 701 to 681 BC; Happened 539 BC
Isaiah 45:1-Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

Messiah will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver and it will be cast to the potter in the temple- Written between 570 BC to 420 BC; Happened between AD 29 to AD 35
Zechariah 11:10-13-  And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

The temple will be completely destroyed- Spoken around AD 29 to AD 33; Happened 70 AD
Matthew 24:1-2- And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Worldwide dispersion of Jewish people- Written 1590 BC to 1570 BC; Happened AD 135
Deuteronomy 4:27- And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

Jewish people return to the land of their forefathers- Happened during the early 1900's
Amos 9:14-15- And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.Isaiah 11:12 - And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Israel signs a peace treaty- Happening NOW
Daniel 9:27a- And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:

This verse says the treaty will be for about 7 years.

Timeline Prophecy: Most of this prophecy has been fulfilled, but there is one last part that remains unfulfilled-
Daniel 2:36-42- This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

(Head) Babylon falls to Media Persia- Happened 539 BC
(Chest and arms) Media Persia falls to Alexander the Great- Happened 333 BC to 330 BC
(Belly and thighs) Alexander the Great= see below
(Legs) Roman Empire= see below
(Feet and Toes) Antichrist kingdom

Daniel 8:19-26- And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

Daniel received much prophecy during his years. After Babylon had fallen, he saw the vision in Daniel 8 which spoke about Alexander the Great conquering Media Persia, and that four kindgoms would stand up in its place. This was a prophecy that Alexander's four generals would take over and split the kingdom since he had no heir; Happened 323 BC.

These four kingdoms would battle until one remained in power. That one was the Attalid dynasty. The last ruler had no heir, but was a faithful ally to the Roman Empire and when he died he willed his kingdom to the Roman Republic; Happened 133 BC. Rome had already conquered the kingdoms created by the other three generals. It was now the ruler of the "civilized world". They were in power under the rule of Caesar when the Messiah was born.

In the latter time of their kingdom (Rome and the Middle East) a terrible ruler will stand up who does awful things. He is demonic and yet takes over by peace. He kills many people, and is known in the New Testament as the AntiChrist. This is part of the prophecy that hasn't happened yet. But with all the prophecy that has already been fulfilled, can you doubt that it will come to pass? 

Thursday, September 3, 2020

One More Day's Work For Jesus (poem)

 One more day’s work for Jesus,
One less of life for me!
But Heav’n is nearer, and Christ is clearer
Than yesterday, to me.

His love and light fill all my soul tonight.
One more day’s work for Jesus!
How sweet the work has been,
To tell the story, to show the glory,

Where Christ’s flock enters in!
How it did shine in this poor heart of mine.
One more day’s work for Jesus!
O yes, a weary day;

But Heav’n shines clearer, and rest comes nearer,
At each step of the way;
And Christ in all, before His face I fall.
O blessèd work for Jesus!

O rest at Jesus’ feet!
There toil seems pleasure, my wants are treasure,
And pain for Him is sweet.
Lord, if I may, I’ll serve another day!

One more day’s work for Jesus,
One more day’s work for Jesus,
One more day’s work for Jesus,
One less of life for me!

-Anna Warner

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Salvation in the Tribulation- A warning to those who may be left behind.

First, what is the Tribulation?
Matthew 24:21- For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
This is what we call the time period where God removes His people from this world and gives it over to humans and spiritual darkness to govern. This time will be proceeded by a disappearance of millions of people who have asked Jesus Christ to save their souls and wash their sins in His blood- Christians.
The time of the Tribulation is also known as Jacob's trouble. It's when the Lord God Almighty turns from dealing with Gentiles and again begins to deal mainly with the nation of Israel.
Romans 11:25- For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
The Lord will be dealing with the nation of Israel, but anyone can be saved throughout this time period. The details are a little fuzzy because God hasn't completely revealed them to us through His Word. But, anyone who is living during this time needs to get themselves a King James Bible and really study and pray and ask God to help them understand exactly what he expects of them.
The entire Bible is written for men to learn from, but not the entire Bible is written for everyone doctrinally. A person in the Tribulation should really focus on the Old Testament Books from Exodus through Deuteronomy, Job, Psalms, and Isaiah through Malachi and the New Testament Books from Hebrews through Revelation- these contain a lot of prophecy and doctrine for the Tribulation. Christ also talks some about this time in the four gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
God shows men what His will for their lives are during the times in which they live (we call these time periods dispensations):
Adam wasn't suppose to eat the fruit.
Noah had to build an ark.
Moses had to keep the law.
As the dispensations changed, so also did the requirements for a soul's salvation. The salvation is what determines where your soul goes after your body has died.
The Tribulation will be divided into two time periods, each about three and a half years long. This is significant to know because the salvation of the human soul is different for each of these time frames because different things happen during these two times periods even though they are both considered the Tribulation.
The Tribulation (part 1)
The first part is usually referred to as just the Tribulation. It is where a one world leader will arise and a one world government will be implemented. The Bible calls this leader the man of sin. This could happen quickly or take a few months to be completed, but it will happen- it's prophesied in Daniel and Revelation and many other Old Testament books. One of the main things that happens will be a peace agreement with the nation of Israel- often referred to as a covenant or a league.
Zephaniah 3:8- Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Revelation 16:14- For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Daniel 11:24- He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
Natural disasters will surge around the globe, and crazy things will happen. It will seem like the world is turning upside down! But, in reality, it is God judging the inhabitants of the earth for their rejection of Him. Anyone who really looks at what is going on will see that God is pouring out His wrath on the different things that people are worshiping instead of Him- nature, astrology, animal activists, etc.
During this first part of the tribulation, a person must do three specific things to have his soul saved:
1) Ask Christ to save him.
2) Keep the commandments of Moses in the Old Testament.
3) Look for Christ's coming.
First, the gift of salvation is still available to people, however it is not just by faith- now you have to work to keep it. If you lose your salvation during this time, you must ask for it again, and again, and again- that's why there are verses in the Bible about people losing their salvation (it's for a specific people at a specific time).
Second, you must keep the commandments of Moses in the Old Testament. If you look up each time "keep the commandments" is mentioned in the Bible, you'll find  it is said 10 times in 10 different places (Deu. 4:2; 6:17; 7:11; 8:6; 10:13; 28:9; Ps. 119:115; Mat. 19:17; Rev. 12:17; 14:12).  If you break any of the commandments you will lose your salvation, and need to ask Christ to save your soul again.
Deuteronomy 32 is known as the song of Moses- Study it!
James 2:14,20, 24 - What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Revelation 15:3- And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Revelation 14:12- Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Your salvation during this time is dependent on your works- especially on how you treat others.
Matthew 25:44-46- Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Third, you must be looking for Christ's return. There will be a mid-tribulation rapture where Christ will again take out the believers who are looking for Him. The story of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25 helps you understand this mid-tribulation rapture. The ones who have the oil (are saved and have the Holy Ghost of God dwelling in them) go with the Bride and Groom into the marriage supper (they will be spared the next part of this time period), the others who have wasted or used up their oil (lost their salvation and didn't work to maintain it) will be left behind to go through the next part- the Great Tribulation.
Matthew 25:13- Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
It's called the Great Tribulation because it makes the last few terrible years seem pretty mild.
Daniel 11:20-23-Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
The Great Tribulation (part 2)
The Great Tribulation will happen sometime after the mid-Tribulation rapture and during the time that the one world leader gets assassinated. This man of sin will then rise from the dead three days later, but he won't be the same person! He is now referenced as the AntiChrist, or Son of Perdition, in the Bible.
Revelation 13:3, 5- And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
II Timothy 2:3-4- Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Daniel 11:36-39 - And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
This time is absolutely unimaginable! The disasters that have been going on globally will intensify- Luke 21 prophesies of this and of a war against the Jewish People (especially Jerusalem). The peace agreement will be broken and the AntiChrist will demand obedience and worship. There will be mutant monsters, cannibals, and a death penalty to anyone who defies anything the AntiChrist declares.
A "mark" will be offered to humanity, possibly with a seemingly impossible promise of immortality. Accepting this mark will meet absolute damnation of your soul- you will not be able to get saved. Refusing this mark could very well mean your death.
Revelation 13:15-18- And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Revelation 19:20- And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Again, this is a future time and God will reveal to those who search and study the King James Bible what it is that they must exactly do to be saved. During this terrible time, however, a person must again do three specific things to save his soul, but they won't be easy.
1) Ask Christ to save him.
2) Keep the commandments of Moses in the Old Testament.
3) Not take the mark of the beast.
The first two are the same as the previous Tribulation time period, but it's so much harder now! You either hunt and gather to survive or you take the mark to be able to buy your food. But, with the global disasters destroying the vegetation and seas it's going to be difficult to get food.
Malachi 4:4- Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
The mark is an immediate death sentence. It has a lot of bad consequences built into it and there will be a special kind of torture that will be endured by all who take it. The alternative is death. But, you must make certain that you've asked Christ to forgive you and cover your soul in His blood and make certain you haven't broken any commandments right before you are killed.
Or, you must "endure til the end". Survive until the end of the Tribulation time period without taking the mark and without getting killed. It will be very hard!
Matthew 24:13- But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
This isn't talking about the salvation of your soul, it's talking about the salvation of your life. If you endure til the end you will be allowed to live on the earth during Christ's rule, when he conquers the AntiChrist and sets up His kingdom on the earth. You will be given a chance to live under Christ's rules and then the way to gain salvation for your soul during that time period will change again.
Isaiah 34:16- Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
II Timothy 2:15- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
John 5:39- Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
If you find yourself suddenly stuck in the Tribulation, Search the Scriptures, Study the Bible, and Seek God's understanding so that your soul isn't damned!