A Thorn In The Flesh (video sermon)

The Horrors Of Hell (poem)

These are facts,
That are true.
Could this little poem-
Be meant for you?

Read a little, 

And you will see

What Satan has for

you and me.

A pretty picture he will show.

The ugly part he'll hide.

You'll never see, my precious friend, 

What's on the other side.

He'll tell you to live it up,

You're young and full of life.

But never turn your back on him,

Cause friend, he'll pull a knife.

Before too long, He's got our soul; 

To hell, with it, he'll go.

There'll be no mercy there, my friend,

No rock to make you roll.

Weird noses will be heard,

You'll think you've lost your mind.

Wild and crazy sounds you'll hear,

Won't be AC DC this time.

The preacher warned me of this place,

How hot the flames would be:

I laughed it off, and continued on,

My God, now look at me.

My laughter stopped, the fun is gone.

My soul cries out in pain;

Jesus, please have mercy,

I promise I will change.

But then a voice, so cruel and loud, 

Began to laugh at me;

"The mercy ceased, the love is gone.

With God you'll never be."

"You had your chance to make it right,

And live above sin.

But you refused to walk with God

Or let the Savior in."

"You did just what I told you to.

Now with me you'll ever be.

You'll burn with fire; You'll cry with pain

Throughout eternity."

There'll be no drugs to make you high,

No rock to make you roll.

No friends, no movies, no cards or dance,

I'll be in control."

"Ha ha! I'll laugh

When you begin to scream.

The pain you'll feel

Is beyond your wildest dreams."

"Suicide? Forget it!

Down here you cannot die.

A holy life you should've chose,

But you chose to live a lie."

"You could've walked on streets of gold,

A mansion to behold.

On earth you thought of many things,

But never once your soul!"

-Attributed to Danny Castle

Bookstores

I know that we can practically get whatever we want in America from Amazon. You just put in the name and search.

I do have some trouble finding good books when I don't know the name, so I've assembled a list of Christian bookstores where one could go to peruse for books which they may not realize are out there.

Bible Baptist Bookstore in Pensacola, FL

Bible Believers Bookstore in Palatka, FL

The KJV Bible Store in Grapevine, TX

Daystar Publishing in Miamitown, OH

Fundamental Baptist Books in Smithfield, KY

Christ The Way bookstore in Canada

Local Church Bible Publishers in Lansing, MI

Guillion's Christian Supply in Statesville, NC

Victory Baptist Press in Milton, FL

4 Gospel Bible Bookstore in King, NC

The Bible Baptist Church in Deland, FL

Final Fight Bible Radio in Eagle, ID

Each of these bookstores has a good selection of fiction and non-fiction, as well as Bibles and study materials. Some even have music CDs and song books available.

Believer's Heritage- Chuck Norris

Carlos Ray Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma on March 10, 1940. He didn't have an easy life, but it was one that God could use. His alcoholic father left and he was raised with his brothers by his mother. Once, when sharing about his relationship with Jesus Christ, he said that his faith began at home through his mother who taught him about Christ. He said that kind of godly influence leaves a mark on you for life.

He joined the Air Force at 18, and while in South Korea he became acquainted with Tang Soo Do, a traditional Korean martial art often referred to as "Korean Karate". By the mid-1960's, he was winning world middleweight karate titles. Bruce Lee recruited him for the final battle in "Way Of The Dragon". That fight scene is still considered one of the greatest ever filmed.

Though he appeared in many Hollywood productions, he insisted that every episode carry a moral message. He had a desire to share his convictions about life and family with those who watched him on the big screen.

Throughout his life, he was open about his relationship with Jesus Christ, even admitting that for a time he had drifted away from God, and it was his second wife, Gena, that helped him turn back to Jesus. He said, "I did drift from the Lord, but the Lord never drifted from me.

"When speaking of Gena, he said that her faith was consistent, intentional, and bold. "She reads the Bible every morning. She got me to sit down and read it with her." He said it was like the Holy Spirit saying, "Chuck, it's time to come home."

They say there is power in our prayers, and even if we never see the outcome, we can be assured that God is moving because of them.

Throughout his life, he was very vocal regarding his support of veterans and youth. He created his own martial arts discipline called Chun Kuk Do, grounded in Christian principles, and built KickStart, a martial arts program for at-risk children and military veterans. He frequently wrote about improving your health. He had an interest in American history and politics. He also wrote about how he thought public schools should have biblical education as part of their curriculum.

On his 86th birthday, he posted a video of himself sparring in Hawaii. Just 10 days later, he was with His Savior.

His family released this announcement, "It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning. While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace. To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family. He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives. While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to share with him. The love and support he received from fans around the world meant so much to him, and our family is truly thankful for it. To him, you were not just fans, you were his friends. Thank you for loving him with us."

While he was alive, Chuck Norris made this statement, "It's important to make your peace with Christ while the opportunity exists. Life is so fragile. You never know when it's going to be over. It could be over in a blink of an eye, and then it's too late to accept God's gift of salvation."

The speed of his passing puts this declaration in a greater context. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. 

In 2024, Chuck Norris wrote, “The answer is to return to the old path, the road followed by our founders who put God first, trusting in Him … to be our salvation,” he wrote. “That is why the most important action you and I can take is to do that in our own lives: to put God first and raise up a new generation of decent, law-abiding, people-loving and God-fearing citizens.”

“That may sound overly simplistic or preachy to some,” Norris added, “but I really don’t mean it that way. Neither did our founders. It was just a fact, and it still is.”

“The physical Resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian religion and our personal faith. It reset the course of humanity, and has indelibly changed the hearts of billions, including Gena and me.”

Norris quoted Jesus’ words: “I am the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

For those who believe this, Norris said, they can have “peace with God and be blessed in this life by His continual presence.” Even more, he said, Christ makes available an eternal life that can “ultimately deliver us from the diseases, toils and tyrants of this world into a life the Bible describes as no pain, grief, sorrow or tears.”

Many have appreciated his tough guy persona he portrayed in his movies, but his family saw another side to him.

At his passing, his 24-year-old son, Dakota Norris, wrote in an Instagram post, “Dad … You’ve been the man I looked up to my whole life. Your generosity, your kindness, your courage, your integrity, your strength, your discipline, and your faith in the Lord were just a handful of things I always admired about you.”

“You were the greatest father God could have ever given me and the finest man I’ve ever known,” he continued. “No matter what I was going through, you were always there. You made sure I knew how much you loved me. Honest to God, I don’t think there was a single day that went by where you didn’t say it.”

“The memories we made, the lessons you taught me, and the constant laughs we shared will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

The takeaway for us all is that we never know when our time may be over, but we can work each day on leaving behind a legacy that reflects the Savior. Jesus Christ can, and will, use your prayers and Godly example if we allow Him to. And that is the heritage that truly matters!

Father, Forgive Them; For They Know Not What They Do

Luke 23:34a- Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

We are so accustomed to hearing this quote from the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross that we are not always conscious of the weight of these words at His crucifixion. This great immediate prayer of intercession was made to stay God's wrath against a world of sinners for the travesty of crucifying the Lord of glory.

Matthew 26:53-54- Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

It was a compassionate prayer. Based upon the Roman standard of 6,000 per legion, twelve legions equals 72,000 angels.

II Kings 19:35- And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

If one angel was able to kill 185,000 men in one night, what could 72,000 angels do? We are talking the total righteous destruction of mankind in an instant!

Psalm 104:29- Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

Job 34:14-15- If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

"Father, forgive them" sounds really good in that context!

It had it's precedence in Holy Scripture:

Genesis 50:16-17- And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

This is the first mention of "forgive" in the Bible.

The Lord Jesus Christ backed this prayer up with a consistent life of forgiveness for sinners.

Luke 6:27-28- But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Matthew 18:21-22- Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

The New Testament is filled with verses commanding this very thing.

Romans 12:14- Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

I Corinthians 4:12- And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

I Peter 3:8-9- Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

I Peter 2:21-23- For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

The first Christian martyr, Stephen, followed Christ's example in Acts.

Acts 7:59-60- And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

This was a consistent, commending, and considerate prayer from our Savior. He knew His reason for being here. He knew that someone had to betray Him. He knew He had to be rejected. Did that make it any less painful? No! And, yet despite that pain He chose to forgive.

Acts 3:13-17- The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

I Corinthians 2:7-8- But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

They didn't know what they were doing! But ignorance is no excuse for sin.

Leviticus 4:13- And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;

This prayer has been in effect for more than 2,000 years now, but it is only temporary. One day the men responsible will be held to account. Not only them, but all of mankind must face the consequences for this crime.

Revelation 1:7- Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

When Christ was on this earth He warned them. They knew they were going to reject Him, and they also knew there would be consequences for this decision.

Matthew 21:33-45- Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

The Pharisees rejected Christ. They did exactly what He said they would in this parable, even though they knew He was sent from God.

John 3:1-2- There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

They lost their nation for almost 1,900 years because of this rejection.

You don't have to suffer the consequences of a lost life, or an eternity in hell. The time to avail yourself of the mercy offered by this prayer is now. You have not been guaranteed tomorrow.

The question everyone faces is "what will you do with Jesus?" It's the same question the Pharisees were asked.

Matthew 27:22- Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

So, now I ask you, "What will you do with Jesus Christ?"

John 3:16-18- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

I John 5:12- He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

-Adam Trosclair

Bear Grylls: The Passion Week

Join Bear Grylls as he tours Israel and shows where Jesus' final days were spent.

Bear Grylls: Renegade Mission

Join Bear Grylls as he tours Israel and shows where some of Jesus' miracles occurred.

Bear Grylls: Exploring Galilee

Join Bear Grylls as he tours Israel and show you where Jesus and his disciples walked.

Bear Grylls: Baptism and the Wilderness Temptation

Join Bear Grylls as he tours Israel and shows you where Jesus was baptized and where he faced the temptations from the devil.

Bear Grylls: Jesus' Birth and Fleeing From Herod

Join Bear Grylls as he tours Israel and shows where Jesus was born, and how he became a refugee in Egypt.

Under His Wings (song)

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Brianna Brown, who went home to be with the Lord December 30, 2025 as the result of an accident.

Brianna was a gifted young lady whose life reflected her faith. Through her beautiful talents—playing the piano and singing—she worshiped the Lord sincerely and pointed others to Him. Her music was not for performance, but for praise, and many were blessed by her willingness to use what God had given her for His glory.

We are sharing a video of one of the last songs she sang, “Under His Wings.” The message of that song now carries even deeper meaning. Brianna trusted in the Lord she sang about, and today she is safely under His wings.

Moments like this remind us of a sobering truth: we are not promised tomorrow. Life is fragile, and time is uncertain. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, today is the day to place your faith in Him. Salvation is found only in Christ, and the invitation is still open.

Please keep Brianna’s family and loved ones in your prayers during this difficult time. We grieve with hope, knowing that for those who are in Christ, death is not the end.

Psalm 91:4 KJV

"He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler."

Bitter & Sweet (poem)

Kindle, Saviour, in my heart,
A flame of love divine;
Hear, for mine I trust thou art,
And sure I would be thine;
If my soul has felt thy grace,
If to me thy name is known;
Why should trifles fill the place
Due to thyself alone?

'Tis a strange mysterious life
I live from day to day;
Light and darkness, peace and strife,
Bear an alternate sway:
When I think the battle won,
I have to fight it o'er again;
When I say I'm overthrown,
Relief I soon obtain.

Often at the mercy-seat,
While calling on thy name,
Swarms of evil thoughts I meet,
Which fill my soul with shame.
Agitated in my mind,
Like a feather in the air,
Can I thus a blessing find?
My soul, can this be pray'r?

But when Christ, my Lord and Friend,
Is pleas'd to show his pow'r
All at once my troubles end,
And I've a golden hour;
Then I see his smiling face,
Feel the pledge of joys to come:
Often, Lord, repeat this grace
Till thou shalt call me home.

-John Newton

Historical Evidence Of Jesus Outside The Bible

 I came across a news article by Diana Rose which I found to be quite fascinating. She mentions a few different historical records where Jesus is mentioned that are not biblical or scriptural texts, but rather historical documents.

Whether this woman is a Christian, or not, is unknown to me. Her conclusions and her words have not been edited by myself, nor can I say that I 100% agree with them, but I believe you will find her evidence and her take on the subject quite interesting.

Believing in historical figures usually requires a leap of faith, but finding Jesus’ footprints outside the Bible feels like striking gold. I remember my first deep dive into ancient history during college. I wanted to know if this figure actually walked the earth or if he remained a myth constructed by followers. You might feel the same skepticism.

I found that critics and historians from the Roman Empire actually documented his existence. These writers had no reason to promote Christianity. In fact, most of them despised the movement.

Bart Ehrman, a renowned agnostic scholar, states that “Jesus certainly existed” because virtually every competent scholar of antiquity agrees on this point. I find this consensus fascinating because it bridges the gap between theology and history. We see a man named Jesus emerging from the ink of his enemies rather than just his friends. This list breaks down the most compelling non-biblical accounts that place Jesus firmly in the history books.

Cornelius Tacitus is among the most trusted historians of the ancient world. He wrote his Annals in 116 AD and did not hold back his disdain for Christians. Tacitus detailed how Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome to deflect rumors that he started it himself. In this account, Tacitus connects the name “Christians” directly to “Christus” and mentions his execution.

I love this entry because Tacitus clearly has no agenda to support the religion. He calls Christianity a “mischievous superstition,” yet confirms two massive historical facts. He notes that Pontius Pilate executed Jesus during the reign of Tiberius. This aligns perfectly with the biblical timeline. IMO, this hostility makes his testimony even more reliable.

Flavius Josephus gives us a Jewish perspective on first-century Judea. In his work Antiquities of the Jews, published around 93 AD, he references Jesus twice. The most accepted passage involves the execution of James. Josephus identifies James specifically as “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ.” Scholars like Louis Feldman regard this passage as highly authentic because it lacks the flowery language Christian scribes might add later.

This brief mention carries heavy weight in the historical community. Josephus does not preach here. He simply uses Jesus as a marker to identify James. Most historians agree that this casual reference proves Jesus was a known public figure at the time.

Pliny serves as a fascinating source because he wrote from the perspective of a frustrated government official. As the governor of Bithynia in 112 AD, he wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan asking how to handle Christians. He described their practice of gathering before dawn and singing hymns to Christ “as to a god.”

I find this letter incredible because it captures the early church in action through the eyes of an outsider. Pliny cared about law and order, not theology. His letter confirms that within a few decades of his death, Jesus had a dedicated following willing to die for him.

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus served as a court official under Emperor Hadrian. In his Lives of the Twelve Caesars, written around 121 AD, he mentions a disturbance during Claudius’s reign. He writes that the Emperor expelled Jews from Rome because they “constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus.”

Most scholars agree that “Chrestus” is a common misspelling of “Christus” or “Christ.” This aligns with the biblical account in Acts 18:2, where Paul meets Priscilla and Aquila after they left Rome. It shows that Jesus’ influence reached the empire’s capital within roughly 20 years of his death.

The Babylonian Talmud contains rabbinic writings that offer a hostile but confirming view of Jesus. In Sanhedrin 43a, the text mentions “Yeshu,” who was “hanged” on the eve of the Passover. The text accuses him of practicing sorcery and leading Israel astray.

I appreciate this source because it represents the opposition. The writers had every reason to deny his existence if he were a myth. Instead, they attempt to explain his power through sorcery. This confirms he performed deeds that people could not easily explain.

Mara bar Serapion wrote a letter to his son from prison sometime after 73 AD. He compares the deaths of Socrates, Pythagoras, and the “wise King” of the Jews. He observes that the Jews lost their kingdom after killing this wise ruler.

Though he does not use the name Jesus, scholars universally agree that he refers to him. He credits this “wise King” with laying down new laws. I think this letter is touching because it frames Jesus as a philosopher and a martyr rather than just a religious figure.

Lucian brings a touch of satire to the historical record. A Greek satirist writing in the second century, he poked fun at Christians in The Passing of Peregrinus. He calls Jesus “the man who was crucified in Palestine” and mocks his followers for worshipping him.

Lucian of Samosata describes Jesus as a “crucified sophist” who introduced new mysteries. While his goal involves ridicule, he inadvertently cements the fact that Jesus existed and died by crucifixion. It proves that even comedians of the era knew exactly who Jesus was.

Celsus wrote The True Doctrine around 175 AD as a comprehensive attack on Christianity. We know his arguments because the church father Origen wrote a massive rebuttal titled Contra Celsum. Celsus did not deny that Jesus performed miracles. Instead, he claimed Jesus learned magic in Egypt.

This mirrors the accusations found in the Talmud. I find this line of attack very telling. Celsus could not simply say “Jesus never did those things.” The evidence was likely too strong. So he attacked the source of the power rather than the events themselves.

Thallus provides one of the earliest potential references to Jesus. Although his original works are lost, Julius Africanus quotes him in a history written around 221 AD. Africanus debates Thallus regarding the darkness that fell over the land during the crucifixion. Thallus argued it was a solar eclipse.

Africanus points out that a solar eclipse cannot occur during a full moon, which falls on Passover. This debate is significant. FYI, it shows that even skeptics did not deny that the darkness occurred. They simply tried to find a natural explanation for it.

The historical existence of Jesus is supported by nine ancient non-Christian sources, including writings by Roman historians such as Tacitus and Jewish sources such as Josephus. These texts provide independent verification of his life, execution under Pontius Pilate, and the early worship practices of his followers, separating the man from the myth. Collectively, these diverse accounts from critics and historians alike confirm that Jesus was a real figure who left an undeniable mark on the ancient world.

How To Tell A Traitor (video sermon)

John Prepared Jesus

 Everyone who has any Bible knowledge knows that John is the Old Testament fulfillment of the prophecy of the return of the prophet Elijah. In fact, he’s the last old testament prophet.

Malachi 4:5-6- Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Matthew 17:10-13- And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Matthew 11:13- For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

But, he’s more than just a prophet. John baptized Jesus. And the more we ponder that, the more I realize how heavy it actually is.

John 1:6-7- There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

At first glance, it may seem so simple or even random. John was there. Jesus came. Jesus got baptized.

John 1:26,27,29,32-34 - John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

But when you slow down and look closer, you'll realize, this wasn’t random at all. John the Baptist wasn’t just some wild preacher who showed up in the wilderness. Luke tells us that he came from a priestly family. 

Luke 1:5-6- There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 

Luke 1:8,11-17- And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

His father, Zechariah, belonged to the line of priests. That means John grew up hearing stories

about the temple, sacrifices, cleansing, and how people were prepared to come before God.
This was his world as he was growing up.

So when John stood in the Jordan River, he wasn't standing there as a novice. He carries with him generations of priestly preparation.

Luke 3:3-6- And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

John is both a prophet and a priest. He came not wearing priestly robes, but camel’s hair. He was not standing at the altar, but in knee-deep in water. He wasn't offering animal sacrifices, but rather calling people to repent. He’s doing priestly work, but outside the temple. And perhaps, that’s the point. Something greater than the temple is about to show up.

Mark 1:6-11- And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Priests didn’t just offer sacrifices. They check them first. The lamb had to be clean. I should contain no defects. It was to be set apart for that specific purpose and then declared acceptable.

So when John sees Jesus walking toward him and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God, whic taketh away the sin of the world,"  that's not just a descriptive title. That’s priestly language.

John doesn’t call Jesus a teacher. He doesn’t call Him a prophet. He calls Him the Lamb. And then, he baptized Him.

Now we have to see that this isn’t Jesus confessing sin. Jesus had none. This moment is rather about identification. Preparation. It’s like John, a priest by birth, is publicly pointing out the true sacrifice, the final one.

John 3:27,28,30,33,36- John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

The same man who prepared people through the baptism of repentance now prepares the One who will truly cleanse them.

I Peter 1:18-19- Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

In the Old Testament, whenever there was a ceremonial service, water always came first. Priests washed before serving in the temple. Objects were cleansed before being used. Preparation always came before sacrifice.

John’s baptism fits that pattern so beautifully.

Matthew 3:13-17- Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

When Jesus came up from the water, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended, and the Father spoke. The Lamb had been revealed. His ministry can now begin.

But what I really admire about John is that he never tries to hold onto the moment. He knows his role. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” That’s not insecurity; that’s faithfulness.

John, as the priest, prepares the way. John, as the prophet, points to the Messiah. Then John steps aside. 

His greatness wasn’t in how long he preached or how many followers he had. It was in how clearly he prepared the way, and how willingly he gave the spotlight to Jesus.

John baptized Jesus.- a priest prepared the Lamb. And the Lamb willingly stepped into the water. From there, the story keeps moving, toward a hill outside Jerusalem, where water would no longer be enough, and blood would finally be poured out. And because of this sacrifice, we have a New Testament!

Hebrews 7:24,27- But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Hebrews 9:11-12,24- But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

What John began in the Jordan​ River Jesus finished at the cross.

Colossians 2:14-15- Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 1:14- In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Psalms 32:1- Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

​Romans 4:23-25- Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Jesus died to not only redeem our souls from hell (the penalty that is meted out to those who sin) but also to justify us before God. Those who accept His sacrifice on the cross as payment for their sin will stand before God just as if they had never sinned.

The Mark Of The Beast

 

Bible prophecy was never given to create fear or confusion, but to reveal God’s order, timing, and purposes. When Scripture speaks about the Mark of the Beast, it places it within a specific prophetic period and connects it to worship, allegiance, and judgment — not to the present Church Age.

Revelation 13 shows that the Mark is introduced after the midpoint of the Tribulation, once the Antichrist is openly revealed, his image is established, and worship of that image is demanded. Only after these events does Scripture describe restrictions on buying and selling.

“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:” (Revelation 13:15–16, KJV)

This sequence matters. The Mark is not vague, gradual, or hidden. It is public, enforced, and unmistakably connected to allegiance. It's almost as if the mark is the effect and the worship of the Beast is the cause; you can't have the one without the other.

THE HEART OF THE ISSUE: WORSHIP, NOT TECHNOLOGY

Scripture consistently emphasizes that God looks at who or what is worshiped. In the Tribulation, the world is divided by a single question: Who will you give your allegiance to?

“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?.” (Revelation 13:4, KJV)

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Revelation 14:6-7)

There are two choices laid out before humanity during this time- worship the Beast and live under God's wrath OR worship Jesus Christ and be prepared to lose your life.

Receiving the Mark is not merely participation in an economic system. It is submission to the authority of the Beast and rejection of God’s truth. Technology may serve as a tool, but the act itself is spiritual allegiance.

WHY THE MARK CANNOT BE RECEIVED ACCIDENTALLY

The Bible never presents the Mark as something taken unknowingly. Revelation 14 makes the order unmistakable- they worship and receive.

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11 KJV)

Worship comes first. The Mark follows. The choice is made to swear allegiance to the Beast and then the mark is given. This removes fear-based claims that people today could accidentally receive the Mark through medicine, identification systems, or modern technology. Scripture does not support that idea.

THE CHURCH AND GOD’S WRATH

It is crucial to rightly divide here.

The Mark of the Beast is directly tied to God’s wrath, not merely persecution. But Scripture also clearly states:

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5:9, KJV)

The Church is not present for the outpouring of God's wrath described in these verses in Revelation. The word "church" doesn't even show up in the book after Revelation chapter 3! The warnings about the Mark are recorded so that God’s prophetic program is understood — not to suggest the Church will experience it.

WHY THIS MESSAGE STILL MATTERS TODAY

Although the Mark is future, the present moment is a time of grace. Prophecy points forward, but salvation is offered now. Avoiding a future judgment does not save anyone. Only the gospel does.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:1–4  KJV)

This chapter begins with the gospel and ends with the rapture!

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:51-57)

Eternal life is received by believing in Jesus Christ and His finished work — not by fear, not by reform, and not by religious association.

FINAL THOUGHT

Prophecy is meant to bring clarity, not panic.
The Mark of the Beast belongs to a future time.
Grace belongs to now.

Believe the gospel while it is freely offered. If millions of people have just vanished all around the world, then you are already in the Tribulation and this devotional applies to you. If that hasn't happened yet, then you still have time!

- Jovelyn Begaso

What Do I Do Now That I Am Saved? (video sermon)

The Founding Father And Deism

 I found this post online, and I thought it had some really good points to it. The title of the poster is under the name Templar Mind.

You've heard it a thousand times. You may have even sat in a university lecture hall, with fluorescent lights humming overhead, while a professor in a tweed jacket dismantled your heritage.

He told you the Founding Fathers were enlightened Deists. He told you they didn’t believe in miracles, didn’t care about the divinity of Christ, and viewed the Creator as a distant “Clockmaker” who wound up the universe and then went on vacation.

You've heard that these men built a secular machine designed to keep God out of the gears. It's the favorite bedtime story of the radical left. It soothes them.

It convinces them that the United States was always intended to be a godless vacuum where the only moral authority is the state.

It's a lazy way to view history, perpetuated by men who are terrified of a God who acts. Sure, they always point to Thomas Jefferson taking a razor to the Gospels or Benjamin Franklin’s youthful indiscretions.

But they stop reading there because the rest of the story destroys their narrative. Jefferson, even while editing the Gospels, could not escape the God who governs.

He still wrote into the Declaration of Independence that men are “endowed by their Creator” with unalienable rights and closed the document with an appeal to “the protection of divine Providence.”

Franklin, who called himself a “thorough deist” in his autobiography, later admitted he found deism “not very useful” and spent his final years quoting Scripture to a room full of statesmen.

The full arc of their lives undermines the secularist case more than any cherry-picked passage. The men who forged this nation did not believe in an absentee landlord.

They believed in Providence. They believed in a God who fights, who judges, and who intervenes in the mud and blood of human history.

George Washington was not a man of many words, he was a man of action. When he took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, In his First Inaugural Address, he offered what he called his “fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations.”

He declared that “No People can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States.”

A Deist doesn't pray for help because a Deist believes no one is listening. Washington prayed constantly. He credited the survival of the Continental Army not to strategic brilliance, but to the direct action of God.

In a private letter to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson on August 20, 1778, Washington wrote: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.

That's from a private letter. No audience to impress. No political calculation. Washington is calling anyone who denies divine intervention in the American Revolution “worse than an infidel.”

Then you have Benjamin Franklin. The secularists love him. He is their patron saint of skepticism. Yet, look at the man in the heat of the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

The delegates were at each other’s throats. The union was crumbling before it even began. After five weeks of deadlock, tempers had fractured along the fault line of state representation.

Franklin at eighty-one, the oldest man in the room, stood up. He didn’t appeal to reason. He didn’t appeal to the Enlightenment.

He said, “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth...that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”

He quoted Psalm 127: “Except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.” And then he moved that the Convention open each day with prayer, imploring “the assistance of Heaven.”

The motion didn't pass. Alexander Hamilton reportedly objected that calling for prayer might signal desperation. The Convention had no funds to pay clergy. But the procedural failure is irrelevant.

What matters is what Franklin actually believed and said aloud to the men who were building this nation.

This was an old man, staring at the end of his life, telling a room of ambitious politicians that they were fools if they thought they could build without God’s help.

John Adams wasn't at the Constitutional Convention. He was serving as the American Minister to Great Britain in London while the delegates debated in Philadelphia.

But he understood the document they produced better than most of the men who signed it, because he understood its fatal weakness.

Eleven years after the Convention, in October 1798, President Adams wrote to the officers of the Massachusetts Militia. He looked at the Constitution they were all sworn to defend and laid bare its vulnerability:

“Because We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition, Revenge or Gallantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Adams understood human nature. He knew that without the fear of God...a specific, terrifying, and active God. liberty turns into license, and license turns into tyranny.

The secular historian tries to tell you that “religious” just meant “generally nice.” It didn’t.

Adams was explicit that the laws of the republic were “emanations of the Divine mind,” that the moral order was grounded in the Creator.

He meant, people who understood they would answer to a Judgment Seat higher than the Supreme Court.

Washington, the general, says religion and morality are “indispensable supports” of political prosperity.

Franklin, the philosopher, says God governs in the affairs of men.

Adams, the lawyer, says the Constitution is a net that only holds moral and religious fish, everything else tears right through.

Three different men, three different temperaments, three different vocations, and the same conclusion:

without God, the experiment fails.

The Founders understood that rights do not come from the King, and they do not come from the parchment of the Constitution.

They come from the Creator. This aligns with the reality of the Imago Dei. We are made in His image, and therefore we possess a dignity that the state cannot grant and cannot take away.

The Fathers of the Church understood this long before Philadelphia.

St. John Chrysostom, in his homilies on Romans, taught that civil authority is ordained by God and that rulers are ministers of divine justice...not autonomous agents of their own will.

St. Basil the Great insisted that those who govern bear a heavier judgment precisely because their authority is borrowed from above.

The American Founders, whether they knew it or not, were working within a framework the Church had articulated for over a thousand years: that legitimate authority flows downward from God, not upward from the consent of the governed alone.

But we must check our own hearts. The “City on a Hill” is the Church, not the United States of America.

America is a beneficiary of Christian truth, but it is not the source of it. We fall into a dangerous trap if we idolize the nation. As it is written, “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help” (Psalm 146:3).

If we make America an idol, we lose the very faith that made America possible. Jesus is the King of Kings, not just the President of Presidents.

We defend the heritage of this nation because it provided a cradle for the faith, but we must not confuse the cradle with the Savior.

True patriotism is the sober recognition that our freedom is a fragile gift, maintained only by the grace of God and the virtue of the people.

Penny's Cookbook

I post a lot of my favorite recipes on here. I have, however, composed a cookbook through Create My Cookbook that you can order should you want to get all of my most loved recipes.

Follow this link to view and order.

I do not get a commission from this. The books are rather expensive to purchase because they are printed as they are ordered.

There is also an ebook version should you wish to get these recipes as an electronic version, and this is the cheapest option.

Count the Cost (song)

Satan- Where Did He Come From, Where Is He Now, & What Is His Fate?

Satan wasn't always bad. In fact, his name wasn't always Satan. He was a musical creature at his creation- one of 5 cherubim which surrounded the throne.

Ezekiel 28:13-15- Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Isaiah 14:12-15- How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

His pride caused him to fall. Originally, he was the "anointed cherub" that covered the throne. When John tells us about what he sees in Revelation, he says there are four cherubim that surround the throne of God.

Revelation 4:2-3,6-8 - And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

When John describes them, you almost get the idea that each of these cherubs has his own unique face- a lion, a calf or an ox, a human, and an eagle. But when you compare other Scriptures, you find that's not the case. 

Ezekiel 10:14- And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

The Cherubim are an interesting creation of God. They have four faces each; it's quite impossible for our minds to comprehend this.

However, originally, there was a fifth, and this last cherub had the face of a serpent.

Revelation 12:9- And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 20:2- And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

This is why he appeared as a "serpent" which could talk when he tempted Eve.

The Bible isn't written in chronological order. Some events are written as if happening all at once, and yet they are thousands of years apart. We aren't told exactly when he was created, but we know they were some of the original creations.

Job 38:4-7- Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

These morning stars are angels triumphing at God's creation!

Revelation 1:20- The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Lucifer was the anointed cherub that covered the throne of God. He was suppose to lead the choir, shall we say, but every time he looked down all he could imagine was himself being on that throne. It was his pride that was the first sin in history.

I imagine that if the cherubim had a fifth face, that of a serpent, that it would have been on top of their heads (where else would it go?). And that when Lucifer looked down at the throne, he saw himself around the throne staring back and that's what encouraged his prideful rebellion. This is just my understanding of the story.

Lucifer fell before Genesis 3, and was in the Garden of Eden in his fallen condition. However, he was given a new name- Satan. He was no longer the light bearer (which is what Lucifer means) over God's throne; He is now the accuser of the saints.

He wanders earth right now, and still has access to heaven, though he doesn't live there.

Job 1:6-7- Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

He goes to heaven often and tries to make trouble for Christians. He will continue this until the middle of the Tribulation when he is kicked out of heaven for good.

Revelation 12:7-9- And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Did you notice that he has his own angels? He didn't create them; God did. But he did corrupt them. These fallen angels are where the devils and demons mentioned in the Bible come from.

Satan will rule the earth for 3.5 years during the Tribulation. He does this by going into the body of the Man of Sin- the politician that has been "ruling" over the one world government. Once this man of sin is assassinated, Satan inhabits his body and raises him back to life- he is now the AntiChrist, the devil incarnate.

Revelation 13:2-3,5-8- And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 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. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

His reign, however, is only for three and half years. When Jesus Christ comes back at the Second Advent, after the end of the Tribulation, Satan will be bound and cast into a specially prepared prison for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:1-3- And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

He will be loosed for a moment after the thousand years before He faces eternal judgment and damnation.

Revelation 20:7-10- And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

You might be wondering why God would damn one of his creations to everlasting torment instead of trying to redeem them. But, I believe that it is Satan's fault that he can't be redeemed.

Do you remember when Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? God has a small discussion with the other members of the trinity, but he abruptly cuts it off without finishing the thought.

Genesis 3:22-23- And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

God says, Lest he eat of the tree of life and live forever. Almost as if someone had done just that. I believe that Satan did eat of both of those trees- giving himself ultimate knowledge along with everlasting life. He cannot die and lose the evil that is now forever in his body. He put himself past the point of redemption, and now God must confine him to everlasting torments (because he cannot be consumed by these torments they will never end).

God, in his mercy, drove Adam and Eve from the garden so they wouldn't be condemned to live in an evil existence for all eternity.

Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), but when Adam and Eve sinned they made that destination the default of the human soul. When Christ died on the cross, he enabled an escape from that default, but only if you accept the terms of the arrangement.

Romans 10:9,10,13- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

You have a choice. Follow Satan's lead and spurn God's gift of eternal salvation for your soul, or humble yourself and accept Christ as your Savior.