EVERYONE HAS A RESERVATION WITH GOD!

THOSE WHO ARE RESERVED UNTO CERTAIN JUDGMENT

*  Job 21:28-30 - "...where are the dwelling places of the wicked?  Have you not asked them that go by the way?  And do you not know...that the wicked are reserved to the day of destruction?  They shall be brought forth to the day of wrath."


*  2 Peter 2:4-6 - "...God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly...."


*  2 Peter 3:6-7 - "...the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."


*  Jude 1:6 - "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He has  reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."


*  Jude 1:8-12 - "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke you.  But these speak evil of those things which they know not:  but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.   Woe unto them!  For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear:  clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever."

THOSE WHO ARE RESERVED FOR BLESSINGS AND REWARDS

*  1 Peter 1:3-5 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that shall not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

WHO MADE YOUR RESERVATIONS; YOU OR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?

THE PRODIGAL GRANDSON

In 1992, a young man (ten days short of being seven) asked his Pastor to baptize him.  His Pastor asked if he believed that Jesus died for his sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, but that His Father had raised Him from the dead, just as the Scriptures had foretold, he said yes.  After counseling with him to insure he understood that baptism did not save him, but that his faith in Jesus did, he was baptized on April 19th. 


For a few years, he displayed great interest in the Bible and attending church, but when his family moved to another state, the Pastor no longer knew if his early enthusiasm continued, or not.  But by the time he was twelve, he had become too difficult for his single mother to handle.  She asked the Pastor if he would be willing to raise him, and from the age of twelve to eighteen, the Pastor had not only accepted him as his own son, but made sure he was enrolled in a Christian school.  He was still rebellious while living with the Pastor, so much so that the police were called to "scare him straight." 


By the time he was eighteen, he had become so disrespectful of the Pastor and his wife, that he was returned to his mother's home.  There, she, still being unable to control him, had him placed into a mental hospital for three weeks, and when he was released, he returned to live with the Pastor.  Finally, after graduating from high school, he met a girl, rented an apartment, and they lived together, until they were finally married about a year later.  After having three children, his wife divorced him, and moved away.  His two oldest children lived with him, and the third was born after she left him.


The young man began working a series of jobs, and even worked for quite a while at the Toyota plant in Kentucky.  But having lost his wife, he began drinking, and eventually lost his job, had a couple of fender-benders, and moved back in with his mother.  His life was a mess, but one night, he went to his mother's room crying, and asked her to pray for him to get right with God.  Things quickly changed, but within two weeks, the was killed in a fatal car wreck. 


At his funeral, one-by-one, several young friends of his told the Pastor how he had changed, even holding a Bible study with some of them.  It was then that the Pastor remembered two passages of Scripture:  Hebrews 12 says that God disciplines His children, something that was clearly happening to the young man; and 1 Corinthians 11, which says that God increases His discipline from allowing "weakness, sickness, and finally death" for His wayward child.  God must have decided that he had messed up his life so badly, that in His mercy, he called him home.  The Pastor understood that he would one day see the young man again, and that they would spend eternity together loving their Lord and Savior.  There is such peace in knowing where one's loved one is!


Today would have been Corey's thirty-second birthday, and I, as the Pastor and his grandfather, know that he is where all Christians long to be; with the Lord!  I love you Corey!

GOOD NEWS FROM SKIP'S LIGHTHOUSE VERSION

*  John 1:1-3, 10-14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made....He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came unto His own people, and they did not accept Him.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to those who believed on His name:  who were not born of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

*  John 6:28-29 - Then they said unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe on Him Whom He has sent.

*  Acts 16:30-34 - The Philippian jailer brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and all those of your household who believe.  And they spoke unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and he was baptized, he and all that were in his house, for they all believed their Gospel message.  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, for he and all of his household believed God message.

*  Romans 10:8-13 - The Word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart:  that is, the Word of faith, which we preach; if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile:  for the same Lord Who is over all, is rich unto all who call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

*  Ephesians 2:4-9 - But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us, even when we were spiritually dead in our sins, has made us alive together with Christ, for by God's grace you are saved; and He gas  raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  that in the ages to come, He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For it is by God's grace that you are  saved through faith; and you yourselves have not earned it:  it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast.

JESUS: THE LORD WHO SAVES

JESUS IS THE LORD OF THE GOSPELS

*  Matthew 12:8 - "For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.'
*  Mark 16:19 - "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God."
*  Luke 24:3 - "And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus."
*  John 20:28 - "And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God."

JESUS IS LORD THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT

*  Acts 16:31 - "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved...."
*  Romans 10:9 - "That if you confess with your mouth faith in the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
*  1 Corinthians 1:3 - "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
*  2 Corinthians 4:13-14 - "We having the same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken;  we also believe, and therefore speak; knowing that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus shall also raise us up by Jesus, and shall present us with you."
*  Galatians 6:18 - "Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Amen."
*  Ephesians 6:24 - "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.  Amen."
*  Philippians 4:23 - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen."
*  Colossians 1:3 - "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you."
*  1 Thessalonians 5:9 - "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  2 Thessalonians 2:14 - "Whereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  1 Timothy 5:21 - "I charge you before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that you observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality."
*  2 Timothy 4:22 - "The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Grace be with you.  Amen."
*  Titus 1:4 - "To Titus, my own son after the common faith:  Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior."
*  Philemon 1:25 - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Amen."
*  Hebrews 13:20-21 - "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen."
*  James 1:1 - "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greetings."
*  1 Peter 1:3 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
*  2 Peter 1:16 - "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty."
*  2 John 1:3 - "Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love."
*  Jude 1:17 - "But, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  Revelation 22:20 - "He who testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly.  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

THE QUESTION IS, IS HE YOUR LORD?

WHY DO YOU THINK JESUS IS CALLED LORD?

*  Acts 4:29 - "And now, Lord, behold their threats:  and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy Word."
*  Acts 5:29 - "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
*  Acts 5:32 - "And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God has given to those who obey Him."
*  Acts 16:17 - "The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who show unto us the way of salvation."

*  Romans 6:16 - "Do you not know, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

*  Romans 6:22 - "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
1 Corinthians 7:23 - "You have been bought with a price; do not be the servants of men."
*  Hebrews 5:9 - "And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all those who obey Him."
*  1 Peter 2:16 - "As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God."
*  2 Peter 2:19 - "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage."
*  Revelation 1:1 - "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John."
*  Revelation 19:5 - "And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you His servants, and you that fear Him, both small and great."

SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT, BUT THE SAVED WANT TO OBEY HIM!

ALL THE WORK NECESSARY FOR YOU TO BE SAVED WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY CHRIST ON THE CROSS!

*  John 4:10 - Jesus answered and said unto her, If you knew the Gift of God, and Who it is that says to you, Give Me to drink; you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you living water.


*  John 6:29 - Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the Work of God, that you believe on Him Whom He has sent.


*  Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


*  Romans 10:1-4 - Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one who believes.


*  2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.


*  Galatians 2:16 - Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law:  for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.


*  Galatians 3:2-3 - This only would I learn of you, did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?


*  Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the Gift of God.  Not of works, lest any man should boast.


*  2 Timothy 1:9 - Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.


*  Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

DO YOU LOVE GOD OUT OF FEAR, OR OUT OF GRATITUDE?

One of the key differences between the Old Testament and the New Testament can be seen by comparing these two verses:

     "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might" (Deuteronomy 6:5).               

 - - - and - - -

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

Note that the Old Testament emphasizes man's obligation to love God, while the New Testament is focused upon God's love for mankind.  Here are a few of the many Bible verses that tell of God's great love for us:


*  John 16:27 - "For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God."


*  Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 


*  Romans 8:37-39 - "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."


*  2 Corinthians 13:14 - "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."


*  Galatians 2:20 - "I am crucified with Christ:  nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."


*  Ephesians 5:2 - "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour."


*  1 Thessalonians 5:9 - "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."


*  Titus 3:4-5 - "But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."


*  1 John 3:1 - "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God...."


*  1 John 4:9 - "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION

THE RESURRECTION WAS MATTHEW'S MESSAGE

*  Matthew 17:9 - And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
*  Matthew 27:62-64 - Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.  Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead:  so the last error shall be worse than the first.
*  Matthew 28:7 - And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there shall you see Him:  lo, I have told you.

THE RESURRECTION WAS MARK'S MESSAGE

*  Mark 9:9 - And as they came down from the mountain, He charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man is risen from the dead.

THE RESURRECTION WAS LUKE'S MESSAGE

*  Luke 16:31 - And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though One rise from the dead.
*  Luke 24:46 - And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.

THE RESURRECTION WAS JOHN'S MESSAGE

*  John 2:22 - When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the Word which Jesus had said.
*  John 20:9 - For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

*  John 21:14 - This is now the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, after that He was risen from the dead.

THE RESURRECTION WAS THE EARLY CHURCH'S MESSAGE

*  Acts 3:15 - And killed the Prince of life, Whom God has raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
*  Acts 4:10 - Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole.
*  Acts 10:41 - Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead.
*  Acts 13:30-31 - But God raised Him from the dead:  and He was seen many days of those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses unto the people.
*  Acts 17:31- Because He has appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man Whom He has ordained; whereof He has given assurance unto all men, in that He has raised him from the dead.
*  Acts 26:23 - That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

HOW IMPORTANT IS CHRIST'S RESURRECTION?

*  Romans 10:9 - That if you will confess that Jesus is your Lord, and you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

JESUS IS THE GREAT I AM

The LORD of the Old Testament...

*  Genesis 26:24 - And the LORD appeared unto him (Isaac) the same night, and said, I AM the God of Abraham your father:  fear not, for I AM with you, and will bless you, and multiply your seed for My servant Abraham's sake.
*  Exodus 3:6, 13-14 - Moreover He said, I AM the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God....
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers has sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name?  What shall I say unto them?  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:  and He said, This is what you shall say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you.

...is the Lord of the New Testament!

*  John 5:43 - I AM come in My Father's name....
*  John 6:35 - And Jesus said unto them, I AM the bread of life....
*  John 8:12 - Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I AM the light of the world....
*  John 8:23 - ...I am from above:  you are of this world; I AM not of this world....
*  John 8:24 - ...if you do not believe that I am, you shall die in your sins.
*  John 8:28 - ...When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you shall know that I AM....
*  John 8:58 - ...I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.
*  John 10:7 - ...I say unto you, I AM the door of the sheep.
*  John 10:11 - I AM the good shepherd....
*  John 10:36 - Do you say of (Me)...You blaspheme; because I said, I AM the Son of God?
*  John 11:25 - ...I AM the resurrection, and the life:  he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
*  John 13:13 - You call Me Master and Lord:  and you say well; for so I AM.
*  John 14:6 - ...I AM the way, the truth, and the life:  no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.
*  John 15:5 - I AM the vine, you are the branches....
*  John 18:4-8 - ...Whom do you seek?  They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus said unto them, I AM.  And Judas also, who betrayed Him, stood with them.  As soon as He had said unto them, I AM, they went backward, and fell to the ground.  Then He asked them again, Whom do you seek?  And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus answered, I have told you that I AM:  if therefore you seek Me, let these go their way.

JESUS STILL ASKS THE QUESTION OF US, "WHOM DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

FOUR WRITERS - ONE MESSAGE - THE GOSPEL

*  Matthew 14:33 - Then those who were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth You are the Son of God.
*  Matthew 27:43, 54 - He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him:  for He said, I am the Son of God....Now when the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.


*  Mark 1:1 - The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
*  Mark 3:11 - And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, You are the Son of God.
*  Mark 15:29 - And when the centurion, which stood over against Him, saw that He so cried out, and gave up the Ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.


*  Luke 1:35 - And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you:  therefore also the Holy One Who shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
*  Luke 4:41 - And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, You are Christ the Son of God.  And He rebuking them allowed them not to speak:  for they knew that He was Christ.


*  John 1:34, 49 - And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God....Nathanael answered and said unto Him, Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.
*  John 9:35-38 - Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Do you believe on the Son of God?  He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?  And Jesus said unto him, You have both seen Him, and it is He that talks with you. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him.
*  John 10:36 - Say you of Him, Whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I am the Son of God?
*  John 11:27 - She said unto Him, Yes Lord:  I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God Who should come into the world.
*  John 19:7 - The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.
*  John 20:30-31 - And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:  but these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, you might have life through His name.


THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU WHO BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD; SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND THAT YOU MAY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD (1 Jn. 5:13 SLV).

THE RAPTURE: UP, UP, AND AWAY!

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS WILL NOT BE HERE DURING THE TRIBULATION

BECAUSE ITS FOCUS IS UPON ISRAEL! 

*  Daniel 9:27 - "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:  and in the midst of the week, he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

*  Jeremiah 30:7 - "Alas!  For that day is great, so that none is like it:  it is even The Time of Jacob's Trouble; but he shall be saved out of it."

*  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."

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS WILL BE REMOVED PRIOR TO THE PERIOD OF GOD'S WRATH IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH!

*  John 14:1-3 - "Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
 *  1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 - For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, Who delivered us from the wrath to come."
*  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - "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:  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."
*  1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 - "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."
*  Revelation 3:10 - "Because you have kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try those who dwell upon the earth."

FOUR EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE BEING TAKEN UP

*  Luke 17:26, 28 - "And as it was in the days of Noah" - (see Genesis 7:17).  "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot" - (see Genesis 19:17).
*  "Enoch was translated that he should not see death"  (see Genesis 5:24). 
*  "Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."  (see 2 Kings 2:11).

ACCEPT JESUS AS LORD TODAY, OR FACE THE WRATH OF GOD TO COME!

SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT

Salvation cannot be achieved by our religious works!  It is a free gift to all who believe in Christ's Crucifixion for our sins, and His Resurrection as they are presented in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:2-3)!  Below is my understanding of the Scriptures which support this:


*  Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.... But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.... For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


*  Romans 4:1-5 - What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found?  For if Abraham were justified by works, he would have something about which to boast; but not before God.  For what do the Scriptures say?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him who works, his reward is not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him who does not count on his own works, but believes on Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.


*  Ephesians 2:4-9 - But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved); and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast.


*  Titus 3:3-7 - For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  But after the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Whom He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


*  Romans 10:8-13 - If you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile:  for the same Lord over all is rich unto all who call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

THE TWO PHASES OF THE SECOND COMING

THE RAPTURE:  CHRIST RETURNS FOR BELIEVERS

*  John 14:3, 28 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also....You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you.  If you loved Me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father:  for My Father is greater than I.


*  1 Corinthians 11:26 - For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death until He comes.


*  1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 - For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.  For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not go before those who are asleep.  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:  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.


*  1 Peter 5:4 - And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that does not fade away.


*  1 John 2:28; 3:2 - And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming....Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him;  for we shall see Him as He is.

THE SECOND COMING: CHRIST RETURNS WITH BELIEVERS

*  Matthew 24:29-30, 46 - Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory....Blessed is that servant, whom His Lord, when He comes, shall find so doing.


*  Mark 8:38 - Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.


*  Luke 12:36-37 - And you yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when He comes and knocks, they may open unto him immediately.  Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He comes shall find watching:  verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.


*  Colossians 3:4 - When Christ...shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory.


*  Revelation 1:7 - Behold, He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.  Even so, Amen.

CHRIST'S TWO-PHASE SECOND COMING:

THE BLESSED HOPE FOR BELIEVERS!

A TERROR TO THOSE WHO REJECTED HIM!

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT GOD LOOKS LIKE?

*  Matthew 1:19-23 - Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately.  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife:  for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call His name JESUS:  for He shall save His people from their sins.  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.


*  John 1:1-3, 14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The Same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made....And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.


*  John 14:7-10 - If you had known Me, you should have known My Father also:  and from henceforth you know Him, and have seen Him.  Philip said unto Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it will satisfy us.  Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known Me, Philip?  He who has seen Me has seen the Father; and why do you say, Show us the Father?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?  The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself:  but the Father Who dwells in Me, He does the works.


*  John 20:26-29 - And after eight days, again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  Then He said to Thomas, reach here your finger, and behold My hands; and reach here your hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing.  And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God.  Jesus said unto him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed: blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.


*  1 Timothy 3:16 - And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:  God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.


*  Hebrews 1:1-3 - God, Who at various times and in divers manners, spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He has appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

AND DO YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING EVEN MORE AMAZING?

WHEN WE SEE JESUS FACE-TO-FACE, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM!

JESUS: OUR RESURRECTED CREATOR

*  Genesis 1:1, 27 - In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth....So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.


*  Psalm 33:6 - By the Word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.


*  John 1:1-3, 10, 14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The Same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made....He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not....And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.


*  Ephesians 3:9 - And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hidden in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ.


*  Colossians 1:13-17 - God has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:  in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:  Who is the image of the invisible God, the first to be resurrected of every creature:  For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by Him, and for Him:  and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. [See:  1 Cor. 15:20-26]


*  Hebrews 1:1-3 - God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He has appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."


*  Revelation 4:8-11 - And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rested not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was, and Who is, and Who is to come.  And when those beasts gave glory and honor and thanks to Him Who sat on the throne, Who lives forever and ever, the four and twenty elders fell down before Him that sat on the throne, and worshipped Him Who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne and said, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created.

A RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD IS A FREE GIFT FROM GOD

 RIGHTEOUSNESS DEFINED

"Righteousness" may be defined as "the state of him who is as he ought to be; the only condition of man that is acceptable to God."  There are two kinds of righteousness:  the false righteousness which man attempts to earn through religious works, and the only genuine righteousness which is a free gift from God to those who trust in Him.  Scripture is from the Skip's Lighthouse Version.

THE FUTILITY OF TRYING TO EARN ONE'S OWN RIGHTEOUS

*  Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all unclean, and all our righteousness is as a filthy rag....
*  Romans 3:10 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.

*  Romans 10:3 - For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have failed to accept the righteousness of God.

*  Galatians 2:21 - I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness was achievable by the Law, then Christ died in vain.

TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A FREE GIFT FROM GOD

*  Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness....
*  Romans 1:17 - For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
*  Romans 3:22 - Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.
*  Romans 4:3-5 - For what does the Scripture say?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him who does religious works, is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him who does not trust in his own works, but believes on Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

*  Romans 10:9-10 - ...if you confess that Jesus is your Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

*  2 Corinthians 5:21 - For the Father made Jesus to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

*  Philippians 3:9 - And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is by the works of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

*  Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us....

HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GRANTED TO ALL WHO TRUST IN JESUS

*  Revelation 19:7-8 - Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

RECONCILING / HARMONIZING THE SCRIPTURES

Based upon Matthew 12:38-40, when compared with Matthew 28:1-6, it is impossible for Christ's Crucifixion to have been on a Friday.  The latter reference gives us the time of His Resurrection as being at the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week (the Jewish Sabbath began at sunset Friday night, and ended at Sunset Saturday; the "first day of the week" began at Sunset Saturday, and ended at Sunset Sunday).  So counting backward three "days and three nights," Jesus was placed in Joseph of Arimathaea's tomb just prior to Sunset Wednesday (Mt. 27:57). 


The confusion comes from misinterpreting the word "Sabbath" from Mark 15:42 and Luke 23:54.  It was not referring to the weekly Sabbath (Saturday), but, we read in John 19:31:   "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, for that Sabbath day was an high day...."  The Feast of Passover, which always occurred on the fourteenth day of the first month of the Jewish calendar, was actually the preparation day for the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  Leviticus 23:5-7 reads:


"In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's Passover.  And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread unto the LORD:  seven days you must eat unleavened bread.  In the first day you shall have an Holy Convocation:  you shall do no servile work therein." 


"An holy convocation" is a sacred assembly, a special Sabbath, a "high day."  So the Jews did not want to get the bodies buried because Saturday was approaching, but because the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was to begin at Sunset.  Here is a chronology of events as I understand them: 
*  Christ was nailed to His cross on Wednesday at around 9:00 a.m. (Mk. 15:25).  It was the "preparation day" and Jesus was the Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7; Jn. 1:29).
*  The sky turned to darkness as the sin of mankind was placed upon Jesus at Noon, as it was then that He felt forsaken by His Father (Mk. 15:32-33).
*  The sky remained dark for three hours (until about 3:00 p.m.) and Jesus died.  At that time, there was an earthquake and the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom (Mt. 27:50-51).
*  Joseph received permission to bury Christ's body and because time was running out with Sunset quickly approaching, Jesus' body was hurriedly placed in Joseph's tomb (Mt. 27:57-61; Mk. 15:42-46; Lk. 23:50-56; Jn. 19:38-42).
*  The high Sabbath - no work (Sunset Wednesday to Sunset Thursday).
*  The women prepared burial spices sometime between Sunset Thursday and Sunset Friday.
*  The weekly Sabbath - no work (Sunset Friday to Sunset Saturday).
*  The women go and find that Jesus had risen sometime between Sunset Saturday and just before dawn of the first day of the week (Sunday).

WHILE THERE IS DEBATE OVER THE DAY OF THE WEEK JESUS DIED;

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY TOTAL AGREEMENT THAT HE ROSE ON SUNDAY!

ONE CANNOT EARN WHAT GOD GIVES FREELY

Salvation, being born again, cannot be earned by religious works!  The Word of God makes it clear that salvation is God's free gift to those who believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross.  Below are several references concerning the gift of salvation, and I have attempted to make them clear by wording them as I understand them; That is why they are not in quotation marks.  In other words, they are from "Skip's Lighthouse Version." 


*  Matthew 7:11 - If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father Who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?


*  John 4:10 - Jesus answered and said unto her, If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is that says to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you living water.


*  Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.


*  Acts 10:45 - And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles also.


*  Acts 11:17 - Forasmuch then as God gave them the same gift as He did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I should withstand God?


*  Romans 5:15-18 - But there is a great difference between Adam's sin and God's free gift.  For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many.  But even greater is God's wonderful grace and His free gift of forgiveness to many through Jesus Christ.  And the result of God's free gift is very different from the result of Adam's sin.  For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.  For the sin of Adam caused death to rule over many.  But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His free gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through Jesus Christ.  Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's free gift of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and eternal life. 


*  Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


*  Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of your doing: it is the gift of God:  not of works, so that no man can boast.


*  James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and come down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

RELIGIONS OFFER FALSE WORKS-BASED SALVATION.

JESUS OFFERS SALVATION AS A GIFT TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE!

A SUMMARY OF FUTURE EVENTS

DANIEL'S 490 YEAR PROPHECY

*  Daniel 9:24-27 - God determined that from the command to rebuild Jerusalem, until the Crucifixion of the Messiah, would be 483 years of the 490 year prophecy.  Seven years remain to be fulfilled.  Those seven years will be known as The Seventieth Week of Daniel, or The Time of Jacob's Trouble, or the Tribulation.  This seven-year period ends with the Second Coming of Christ, and is described in Matthew 24:3-29 and Revelation 6:1 - 19:21.

THE 1000 YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST

*  Revelation 20:1-15 - Following Christ's Second Coming, He will rule with a rod of iron for 1000 years.  During that time, Satan will be prevented from influencing mankind.  At the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be freed to lead the nations of this world against Christ and His people, Israel.  However, Jesus will cast Satan into the Lake of Fire, to join the Antichrist and the False Prophet, who were cast there 1000 years earlier. 

ETERNITY WITH GOD IN THE  NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH 

*  Revelation 21:1-7 (SLV) - "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:  for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:  for the former things are passed away.  And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.  And He said unto me, Write:  for these words are true and faithful.  And He said unto me, It is done.  I AM Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.  I will give unto him that thirsts of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be His God, and he shall be My son."

HOW DOES ONE "OVERCOME?"

*  1 John 5:4-7 (SLV) - "For whosoever is born of God overcomes the world:  and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  This is He Who came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.  And the Spirit bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:  and these three are one."

DID SATAN TEMPT HER, OR DID THE LORD PROVIDE?

*  Genesis 3:1-6 - "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.  And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:  but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."


*  Matthew 4:1-11 - "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.  And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward hungry.  And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee:  and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone.  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him."


Recently:  There was a lady who had lost her only son in a car wreck, and since she was living with him at the time, it turns out she became homeless.  So her aged parents offered to share their home with her.  There was only one problem, like the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a "no-no" for Adam and Eve, the "tree" for her was that she could not have a dog - her parents already had two, and did not want another dog in their home.  One day, a sweet young child approached her and asked her if she would like a free puppy.  When she did not say yes, a local dog-catcher told her that if shee took the puppy, he would see to it that the puppy had his shots, and that he would have the puppy "fixed," also free.  She was so lonely, and believing the Lord had answered her prayers by providing her with the puppy, she accepted and took the puppy to live with her in her parent's home.  Her father was furious at her lack of respect for him and his wife, that for a time, he would not speak to her. 


My question is:  Was the puppy provided by God, or did Satan keep "sweetening the deal" tempting her to defy her parents?  Because I am her father, and I cannot say for sure who provided it, I have decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.  So, for now, "Chewbacca" will stay.  P.S.  Perhaps the Lord provided the puppy and Satan was tempting me to reject my child.  God has not rejected me, and since I dream of the day when I shall be like Jesus, I will accept it and Satan is defeated anyway!     

FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS

Before members of Church were called Christians, they were known as "the people of the way" (Acts 11:26).  Even the enemies of Christ understood that believers in Jesus were to follow Him wherever He led them.  Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  I do not think it is a coincidence that Jesus is identified as "The Word!"  (Jn. 1:1, 14; etc.).

*  Matthew 3:3 - "For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight" (see Isa. 40:3).

*  Matthew 7:13-14 - "Enter ye in at the strait gate:  for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

*  Matthew 22:16 - "And they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man: for Thou regardest not the person of men."

*  Mark 1:3 - "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight."

*  Mark 10:52 - "And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."

*  Mark 12:14 - "And when they were come, they say unto Him, Master, we know that Thou art true, and carest for no man:  for Thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth...."

*  Luke 1:79 - "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

*  Luke 3:4 - "As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight."

*  Luke 20:21 - "And they asked Him, saying, Master, we know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest Thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly."

*  John 1:23 - "He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah."

*  John 14:4-6 - "And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?  Jesus saith unto him, I AM THE WAY, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."

*  Acts 9:2 - "And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this (the) way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem."

*  Acts 16:17 - "The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation."

*  Acts 18:25-26 - "This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.  And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly."

*  Acts 24:14 - "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets."

*  2 Peter 2:2 - "And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."

THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS BELIEVERS

TO LEAD US IN THE WAY WE SHOULD GO!

THINK ABOUT THESE PASSOVER FACTORS

*  Exodus 12:3-7 - "Speak you unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:  and if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year:  you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:  and you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it."
*  Leviticus 23:4-8 - "These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.  In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover.  And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.  In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.  But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein."


*  Matthew 12:38-40 - "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from You.  But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah:  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
*  Matthew 26:2 - "You know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified."
*  Mark 14:1 - "After two days was the feast of the Passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by craft, and put Him to death."
*  Luke 22:7 - "Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed."
*  John 13:1 - "Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end."
*  John 18:28 - "Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover."
*  John 18:39 - "But you have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover:  will you therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?"
*  John 19:14 - "And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour:  and he said unto the Jews, Behold your King!"
*  1 Corinthians 5:7 - "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened.  For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."

THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUE; TRADITION IS NOT ALWAYS TRUE.

WHAT DOES THE PASSOVER MEAN TO CHRISTIANS?

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE MADE THIS STRANGE STATEMENT?

*  John 6:53 - "Then Jesus said unto them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you."

COMPARE THAT VERSE WITH THESE VERSES:

 

*  1 Corinthians 11:23-27 - "For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread:  and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat:  this is My body, which is broken for you:  this do in remembrance of Me.  After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in My blood:  this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till He come."

 

*  John 11:25-27 - "Jesus said unto Martha, I AM The Resurrection, and The Life:  he who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  and whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?  She said unto Him, Yes Lord:  I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, Who was to come into the world."

 

*  Romans 5:8-9 - "But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."

 

*  Colossians 1:12-14 - "Giving thanks unto the Father, Who has made us qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has placed us into the kingdom of His dear Son:  in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins."

 

"For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us!"

(1 Corinthians 5:7 - All Scripture is from the SLV)


A WARNING TO REBELIOUS SONS AND DAUGHTERS

*  Exodus 20:12 - "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."

*  Deuteronomy 5:16 - "Honor thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."

*  1 Samuel 15:23 - "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry."

*  Isaiah 30:1, 9 - "Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin...."

*  Matthew 19:19 - "Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

*  Mark 7:10 - "For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother...."

*  Luke 18:20 - "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother."

*  Romans 1:29-30 - "Being filled with all unrighteousness....disobedient to parents...."
*  Ephesians 6:1 - "Children, obey your parents in the Lord:  for this is right."

*  Colossians 3:20 - "Children, obey your parents in all things:  for this is well pleasing unto the Lord."

*  2 Timothy 3:1-2 - "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful...."

SAME MESSAGE - EASY-TO-READ VERSION

One need only observe the news media today, to find these end-time social conditions are already the norm.  Sadly, many of the offenses listed in God's Word can be seen in the churches of the world, and even in Christian homes.  Jesus warned of family rebellion and division in Matthew 10:21; Mark 13:12; and Luke 21:16!  The following passages are from the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), and they describe the behavior of mankind in the latter days:

*  Romans 1:26-32 - "Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex with men and started having sex with other women.  In the same way, men stopped having natural sex with women and began wanting each other all the time.  Men did shameful things with other men, and in their bodies they received the punishment for those wrongs.  People did not think it was important to have a true knowledge of God.  So God left them and allowed them to have their own worthless thinking.  And so they do what they should not do.  They are filled with every kind of sin, evil, greed, and hatred.  They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, lying, and thinking the worst things about each other.  They gossip and say evil things about each other.  They hate God.  They are rude, proud, and brag about themselves. They invent ways of doing evil.  They don’t obey their parents, they are foolish, they don’t keep their promises, and they show no kindness or mercy to others.  They know God’s law says that anyone who lives like that should die.  But they not only continue to do these things themselves, but they also encourage others who do them."

*  Galatians 5:19-21 - "The wrong things the sinful self does are clear:  committing sexual sin, being morally bad, doing all kinds of shameful things, worshiping false gods, taking part in witchcraft, hating people, causing trouble, being jealous, angry or selfish, causing people to argue and divide into separate groups, being filled with envy, getting drunk, having wild parties, and doing other things like this.  I warn you now as I warned you before:  The people who do these things will not have a part in God’s kingdom."

*  2 Timothy 3:1-5 - "Remember this:  There are some terrible times coming in the last days.  People will love only themselves and money.  They will be proud and boast about themselves.  They will abuse others with insults.  They will not obey their parents.  They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God.  They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone.  They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control.  They will be cruel and hate what is good.  People will turn against their friends.  They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves.  Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure.  They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to let that “devotion” change the way they live.  Stay away from these people!"

 

TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOLKS! 

ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR LORD WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME!

THE FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE

One need only observe the news media today, to find these end-time social conditions are already the norm.  Sadly, many of the offenses listed in God's Word can be seen in the churches of the world, and even in Christian homes.  Jesus warned of family rebellion and division in Matthew 10:21; Mark 13:12; and Luke 21:16!  The following passages describe the behavior of mankind in the latter days; 

*  Romans 1:26-32 - "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.  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

*  Galatians 5:19-21 - "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

*  2 Timothy 3:1-5 - "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away."

 

TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOLKS! 

ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR LORD WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME!

THREE TREES

THE TREE OF LIFE

*  Genesis 2:9 - "And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."

*  Genesis 3:22-24 - "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 forever:  therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."

*  Revelation 2:7 - "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

*  Revelation 22:2 - "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
*  Revelation 22:14 - "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."

THE TREE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH

*  Genesis 2:16-17 - "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
*  Genesis 3:6-8 - "And when the woman saw that the tree (of the knowledge of good and evil) was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:  and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden."

THE TREE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE

*  Acts 5:30-32 - "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.  Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.  And we are His witnesses of these things...."
*  Acts 10:38-40 - "...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power:  Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.  And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; Whom they slew and hanged on a tree:  Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly."
*  Galatians 3:13-4 - "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."