JESUS: GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH!

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.  He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:  who were born, not 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 as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 5:17-24 - "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do:  for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.  For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth:  and He will show Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.  For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:  that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.  He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father Who hath sent Him.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

Philippians 2:5-11 - "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

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 1:1-8 - "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath 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; being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.  For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten thee?  And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?  And again, when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.  And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.  But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever:  a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom."

TRUST IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND YOU SHALL BE SAVED!

GOD LEADS HIS PEOPLE; WE NEED TO FOLLOW HIM!

GOD LED HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS!

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

Exodus 14:24 - "And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians...."

Numbers 14:14 - "...and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land:  for they have heard that Thou LORD art among this people, that Thou LORD art seen face to face, and that Thy cloud stands over them, and that Thou goes before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night." 

Nehemiah 9:12, 19 - "Moreover Thou led them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go....Thou in Thy manifold mercies forsook them not in the wilderness:  the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go."

JESUS LED HIS DISCIPLES!

Matthew 4:19 - "And He said unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Matthew 16:24 - "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

John 10:27 - "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

John 12:26 - "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be:  if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor."

THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS BELIEVERS TODAY!

John 16:12-15 - "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.  Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth:  for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak:  and He will show you things to come.  He shall glorify Me:  for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.  All things that the Father hath are Mine:  therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you."

IF YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD, FOLLOW HIM!

THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION!

John 3:14-17 - "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  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."

John 10:7-10 - "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I AM The Door of the sheep.  All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers:  but the sheep did not hear them.  I AM The Door:  by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I AM come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Acts 4:10-12 - "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Acts 16:29-33 - "Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  And they spake 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 was baptized, he and all his, straightway."

Romans 5:6, 8-11 - "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly....God commendeth (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.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement."

Romans 8:22-25 - "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  For we are saved by hope:  but hope that is seen is not hope:  for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for (it)?   But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."

Romans 10:8-13 - "But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:  that is, the Word of Faith, which we preach; 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 the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (Gentile):  for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

1 Corinthians 15:1-6 - "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:  and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep."

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

Titus 3:5-7 - "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.

GOD SAVES THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL!

GOD SEALS UNTO HIMSELF ALL WHO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL!

GOD DELIVERS THE GOSPEL TO OTHERS THROUGH US!

IT HAS BEEN SEVENTY YEARS!

November 29, 1947:  The United Nations General Assembly approves the partition plan for Palestine put forward by the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine. The 1947 U.N. partition divided the area into three entities:  a Jewish state, an Arab state, and an international zone around Jerusalem. This year marks the seventieth year since the rebirth of Israel.  Because the generation which observes the rebirth of the nation will still be alive when Christ returns to remove the Church in the "Rapture" (Matthew 24:32-35), many students of Bible prophecy, including me, believe the "Rapture" will take place this year.   The Bible indicates that the number "seventy" has been a  significant number in the History of Israel; here are several examples:  

Genesis 46:27 - "And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls:  all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten."

Genesis 50:1-3 - "And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.  And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.  And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed:  and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days."

Exodus 15:27 - "And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees:  and they encamped there by the waters."

Judges 8:30 - "And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten:  for he had many wives."

Judges 9:1-5, 18, 24 - "And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you?  remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.  And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words:  and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.  And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him."  And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself....And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother....That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren."

Judges 12:13-14 - "And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.  And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts:  and he judged Israel eight years."

2 Chronicles 29:31-32 - "Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD.  And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.  And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs:  all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD."

2 Chronicles 36:20-23 - "And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:  to fulfill the Word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths:  for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years.  Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the Word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and He hath charged me to build Him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people?  The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up."

Psalm 90:10 - "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

Daniel 9:24 - "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."

Zechariah 1:12 - "Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt Thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which Thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?"

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."

Luke 10:1, 17 - "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come....And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name."

Acts 23:23-24 - "And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; and provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor."

ARE YOU READY? 

IS JESUS CHRIST YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR? 

IF NOT, PUT YOUR FAITH IN

THE CRUCIFIED, BURIED, AND RESURRECTED LORD TODAY!

YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS? SHOW ME!

RELIGION IS MAN ATTEMPTING TO EARN SALVATION

Romans 10:1-3 - "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."  

SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT TO THOSE WHO TRUST IN JESUS

Matthew 6:33 - "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness...."

Titus 3:5-8 - "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; Which 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.  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."

Romans 3:20-27 - "Therefore by the deeds (works) of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight:  for by the Law is the knowledge of sin (revealed - see Gal. 3:24-25).  But now the righteousness of God without (apart from) the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets;  even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference (between the Jew and the Gentile):  for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace (unmerited favor) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (full payment of our sin debt) through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness:  that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.  Where is boasting then?  It is excluded.  By what Law?  Of works?  Nay:  but by the law of faith."

Ephesians 2:8-10 - "For by grace (unmerited favor) are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Philippians 3:8-9 - "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:  for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith...."

2 Timothy 1:7-9 - "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner:  but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace...."

THE WORKS OF BELIEVERS ALWAYS GLORIFY GOD!

Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in heaven."

James 2:17-20 - "...faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:  show me thy faith without thy works (faith that is in word only), AND I WILL SHOW THEE MY FAITH BY MY WORKS.  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:  the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without (that has no) works is dead?"

IF YOU BELIEVE JESUS DIED FOR YOU, SHOW IT!

PAUL'S MINISTRY WAS ALSO TO THE JEWS

SAUL OF TARSUS:  ENEMY OF THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST

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

SAUL OF TARSUS:  APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES AND THE JEWS

Acts 9:15 - "But the Lord said unto him (Ananias), Go thy way:  for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel...."

Acts 9:20 - "And straightway he (Saul of Tarsus) preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Acts 13:2-5, 9, 14-15 - "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.  So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.  And when they were at Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews:  and they had also John to their minister....Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him....But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.  And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on."

Acts 14:1 - "And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed."

Galatians 2:7-9 - "But contrariwise, when they saw that the Gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the Gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the Same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles):  and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision."

Acts 17:1-3, 10, 16-17 - "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:  and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, Whom I preach unto you, is Christ....And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews....Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.  Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him."

Acts 18:4-6, 19 - "And he reasoned in the synagogue (in Corinth) every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.  And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.  And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles....And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews."

Acts 19:8 - "And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God."

Acts 24:10-12 - "Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:  because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.  And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city."

Romans 11:14-15 - "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:  if by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh (the Jews), and might save some of them."

SHARE THE GOSPEL WHERE YOU ARE!

BIBLICAL SIGNS AS THEY RELATE TO THE RAPTURE

Here are a few observations regarding the current obsession with declaring the date of the Rapture.

1.  The Rapture, the Body of Christ being caught up to meet Jesus in the clouds, differs from Christ's Second Coming.  One occurs prior to the Tribulation and the other happens when Christ ends the Tribulation and establishes His Millennial (1000 year) Kingdom - John 14:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10 verses Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-20:15.

2.  Because there is a defined order of events (Rapture - Tribulation - Second Coming - Millennium), we know that there will be 1007 years from the beginning to the Tribulation and the ending of the Millennium (Daniel 9:24-27; Revelation 20:1-7).  What we do not know is the length of time between the Rapture and the beginning of the Tribulation.

3.  All the biblical signs people describe as happening now, (false christs, wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, have nothing to do with the Rapture of the Church; they are referring to the signs leading up to Israel's Tribulation; the "beginning of sorrows" (the Greek ὠδίν (ōdin), which is defined by Strong's Concordance as "the pain of childbirth, travail pain, birth pangs; intolerable anguish, in reference to the dire calamities preceding the advent of the Messiah" (Daniel's Seventieth Week in Daniel 9:27; the Time of Jacob's Trouble in Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:4-29; Revelation Ch. 6 - 18).

4.  There are no signs specifically related to the Rapture of His Church!  However, because God has not appointed the Church to suffer His wrath, and because His coming for us is our "blessed hope" (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10), it must occur prior to the trial that is coming upon all the earth!  However, the Church of (ruled by) the Laodiceans, having excluded Jesus as their Lord, will continue on earth after the Rapture (Revelation 3:14-22). These persons are described in Matthew 13 as "tares" (v. 24-30, 36-43); and sea creatures unfit for consumption (v. 47-50).

Further evidence that the coming of the Lord for His Church is a positive event for us, is that we long for it to happen; if we had to go through the Tribulation to see Christ, I am absolutely certain I would prefer to die, than to await His Second Coming!  Here are several verses that speak to the imminent return of us:  1 Corinthians 1:7; 16:22; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 3:1-3; and Revelation 22:20!

BOTTOM LINE:

THE BIBLICAL SIGNS ARE FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN

AFTER THE LORD HAS REMOVED HIS CHURCH! 

FOOLS

Some form of the word "fool" appears in nearly 250 verses of the King James Version of the Bible.  To say that I was surprised at that, is an understatement!  After all, haven't you heard that Jesus said, "Call no man a fool?"  Well guess what!  That statement is not found in the Bible!  What Jesus actually said was: 

Matthew 5:22 -  "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:  and whosoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca,' shall be in danger of the council:  but whosoever shall say, 'Thou fool,' shall be in danger of hell fire." 

"Thou fool" is from the Greek μωρός (mōros), which means one who is "impious, godless, one in rebellion against God!"  It is basically accusing someone of being spiritually unworthy of life.  In other words, assuming the role of the Judge of souls:  that is, God Himself!  It is blasphemy!  The same word appears in:

1 Corinthians 3:18-19 - "Let no man deceive himself.  If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."

The following verses are translated from different Hebrew and Greek words and do not have the same meaning:

Psalm 14:1 - "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.  They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."

Psalm 53:1 - "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.  Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity:  there is none that doeth good."

Psalm 92:5-6 - "O LORD, how great are Thy works!  And Thy thoughts are very deep.  A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this."

Proverbs 1:7 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:  but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Proverbs 10:23 - "It is as sport to a fool to do mischief:  but a man of understanding hath wisdom."

Proverbs 12:15 - "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes:  but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."

Proverbs 14:9 - "Fools make a mock at sin:  but among the righteous there is favor."

Proverbs 23:9 - "Speak not in the ears of a fool:  for he will despise the wisdom of thy words."

Proverbs 26:11 - "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly."

Proverbs 28:26 - "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool:  but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."

Romans 1:21-22 - "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools...."

Ephesians 5:16-17 - "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

BELIEVE -> REPENT -> SUBMIT -> SERVE!

Romans 10:1-3 - "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."

Ephesians 2:8-10 - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Philippians 3:7-9 - "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:  for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."

Titus 1:10, 16 - "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision....They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

Titus 2:7-14 - "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works:  in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.  Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that Blessed Hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

Titus 3:1-8 - "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.  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 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; 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.  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."

GOD'S OFFER OF SALVATION IS TO ALL!

The word "saved" appears 104 times in the King James Version of the Bible; 47 times in the Old Testament and 57 times in the New Testament.  Rather than give a dictionary or concordance definition of "saved," I have chosen a dozen examples that help us understand its significance:

John 3:17 - "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."

Acts 2:21, 47 - "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved....Praising God, and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

Acts 4:10, 12 - "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole....Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Acts 16:30-31 - "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

Romans 5:9-10 - "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

Romans 10:9, 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 whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

1 Corinthians 1:18 - "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God."

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - "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...."

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

1 Timothy 2:4 - "(God) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

2 Timothy 1:9 - "Who hath saved us, and called us with an 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...."

BY TRUSTING IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE:

SAVED FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN!

SAVED FROM THE WRATH OF GOD!

SAVED FROM AN ETERNITY IN HELL!

SAVED TO SHARE ETERNITY WITH GOD!

SALVATION IS OFFERED FREELY TO ALL!

THERE IS NO PARTIALITY WITH ALMIGHTY GOD!

Acts 10:34 - "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons...."

Romans 2:11 - "For there is no respect of persons with God."

Ephesians 6:9 - "And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening:  knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him."

IT IS GOD'S WILL THAT ALL SHOULD BE SAVED!

2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance."

THEREFORE, BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Joel 2:32 - "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."

Matthew 10:32 - "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father Who is in heaven."

John 3:15-16 - "That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  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."

John 11:26 - "And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this?"

Acts 2:21 - "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Acts 10:43 - "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins."

Romans 10:13 - "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

1 John 2:23 - "Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also."

1 John 4:15 - "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."

1 John 5:1 - "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God:  and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him."

Revelation 22:17 - "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK:  

IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE AND OPEN THE DOOR,

I WILL COME IN TO HIM, AND SUP WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME! 

LEARN FROM THE PAST; YEARN FOR THE FUTURE!

COMPARISON:  AS IT WAS, SO IT SHALL BE!

Exodus 27:7-8 - "And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.  Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: AS it was showed thee in the mount, SO shall they make it."

Luke 17:26-27 - "And AS it was in the days of (Noah), SO shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that (Noah) entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all."

Luke 17:28-30 - "Likewise also AS it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  (SO) shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."

John 3:14-15 - "And AS Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even SO must the Son of man be lifted up:  that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

CONTRAST:  UNLIKE IT WAS, SO IT SHALL BE!

Romans 5:17-19 - "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.  Therefore AS by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even SO by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  For AS by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, SO by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

1 Corinthians 15:42-54 - "So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:  it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:  it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.  There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy:  and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I show 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."

PREACH REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SIN

REMISSION OF SINS DEFINED

The definition of "remission" from The King James Bible Dictionary:  "Forgiveness; pardon; that is, the giving up of the punishment due for sin."  "Remission" must be understood as being justified by a Holy, Righteous God, and is based upon the "propitiation of our sin" by Jesus Christ:  in other words, "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21)!  This is best summarized in the Gospel:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - "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....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...."

REMISSION OF SINS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew 26:27-28 - "And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

Mark 1:1-4 - "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; as it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee.  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.  John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."

Luke 1:76-78 - "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest:  for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God...."

Luke 3:1-3 - "Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the Word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.  And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."

Luke 24:45-47 - "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  and that repentance AND remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

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 ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Acts 10:42-43 - "And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He Who was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins."

Romans 3:23-25 - "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:  for there is no difference:  for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God."

Hebrews 9:22 - "And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."

GOD'S WORD CONCERNING THE LAST DAYS!

Genesis 49:1-28 - "And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days....
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it:  he went up to my couch.
Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.  O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united:  for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall.  Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel:  I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise:  thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.  Judah is a lion's whelp:  from the prey, my son, thou art gone up:  he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.  Binding His foal unto the vine, and His ass's colt unto the choice vine; He washed His garments in wine, and His clothes in the blood of grapes:  His eyes shall be red with wine, and His teeth white with milk.
Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.
Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:  and he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.  Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.  I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.
Gad, a troop shall overcome him:  but he shall overcome at the last.  Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.
Naphtali is a hind let loose:  he giveth goodly words.
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:  the archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:  but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel):  even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:  the blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills:  they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf:  in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spoke unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them."

Isaiah 2:1-5 - "The Word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.  And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths:  for out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people:  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks:  nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.  O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD."  [See Micah 4:1-5]

Acts 2:16-21 - "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel:  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh:  and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  and on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy:  and I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:  the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:  and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

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, truce-breakers, 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."

Hebrews 1:1-3 - "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath 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."

James 5:1-8 - "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.  Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire.  Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.  Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth:  and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.  Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.  Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.  Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain.  Be ye also patient; establish your hearts:  for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."

2 Peter 1:1-4 - "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:  that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:  knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming?  For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

THE JEWS REQUIRE SIGNS - NOT THE CHURCH!

Genesis 1:14-16 - "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:  and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth:  and it was so.  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night:  He made the stars also."

Matthew 12:38-40 - "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from Thee.  But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:  for as Jonas 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 16:4 - "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.  And He left them, and departed."

Matthew 24:29-30 - "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."

Luke 21:25-27 - "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:  for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."

Acts 2:15-16, 19-20 - "For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel....And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:  the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable Day of the Lord come."

1 Corinthians 1:22-24 - "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:  but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

Revelation 12:1-6 - "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:  and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.  And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:  and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne.  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." 

[Notes:  The woman is in heaven.  Satan is in heaven.  The birth of the man child was in heaven.  AND YET, following the birth, the man child is caught up TO HEAVEN.  AND, the woman is in hiding on earth for the second half of the Tribulation!  If the man child is the Church, the Body of Christ, the Rapture would take place mid-Tribulation, because chapters eleven, twelve, and thirteen, describe the mid-point of the Tribulation!  Chapters 6 - 10 speak of the first half of the Tribulation, and chapters 14-18 speak of the last half.]

WE ARE TO KNOW AND DO GOD'S WILL!

Matthew 7:21 - "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Who is in heaven."

Matthew 12:50 - "For whosoever shall do the will of My Father Who is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother."

Matthew 18:14 - "Even so it is not the will of your Father Who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."

John 1:12-13 - "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the (children) of God, even to them that believe on His name:  (who) were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but (were born of the will of) God."

John 4:34 - "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him Who sent Me, and to finish His work."

John 5:30 - "I can of Mine Own Self do nothing:  as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine Own will, but the will of the Father Who hath sent Me."

John 6:38-40 - "For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine Own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me.  And this is the Father's will Who hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.  And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

Romans 8:27 - "And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Galatians 1:3-5 - "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:  to Whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen."

Ephesians 5:15-17 - "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

Ephesians 6:6 - "...but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart."

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication...."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Hebrews 10:36 - "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."

1 Peter 2:15 - "For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."

1 John 2:17 - "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."

THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME!

Matthew 1:20-21 - "...the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:  for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS:  for He shall save His people from their sins."

Matthew 12:21 - "And in His name shall the Gentiles trust."

Luke 2:21 - "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb."

Luke 24:46-47 - "And (Jesus) said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

John 1:11-12 - "He (Jesus) came unto His own, and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."

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 ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name."

Acts 4:10-12 - "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.  This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the Corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Acts 10:43 - "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins."

Romans 1:3-6 - "...Jesus...the Son of God...by Whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name:  among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ."

Hebrews 13:15 - "By (Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name."

1 John 2:12 - "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake."

Revelation 19:13 - "And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:  and His name is called The Word of God."

Revelation 22:3-4 - "And there shall be no more curse:  but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him:  and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads."

GROANING TO BE PRESENT WITH OUR LORD

THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME:  THANK GOD!

Romans 8:14-25 - "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the (children) of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit (Himself) beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the (children) of God.  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  For we are saved by hope:  but hope that is seen is not hope:  for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for (it)?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 - "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I show 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, (Who) giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 - "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:  if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened:  not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.  Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, Who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  (For we walk by faith, not by sight):  we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

THE JUDGMENT SEAT IS ABOUT REWARDS FOR SERVICE!

1 Corinthians 3:8-15 - "Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one:  and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are laborers together with God:  ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.  But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest:  for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:  but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."  

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Revelation 1:18-19 - Jesus said, "I AM He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I AM alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.  Write the things which thou hast seen (past tense), and the things which are (present tense), and the things which shall be hereafter (future tense):"

PAST TENSE: 

Rev. 1:12-17 - John has seen the glorified Son of God!

This is not the first time John had the privilege of seeing Jesus in His glorified state.  John, along with his brother James, and Peter, saw Jesus transfigured before them (Mt. 17:1-2; Mk. 9:2-3; Lk. 9:28-29).  Ironically, while none of the writers of the Synoptic Gospels were actually present at the event, John, who was present, did not mention the previous experience in his Gospel.  However, Peter did mention the experience in 2 Peter 1:16-18.

PRESENT TENSE: 

Rev. 2:1-3:22 - John wrote to existing churches!

In Rev. 1:10-11 - John was to write to seven individual churches that existed at the time of his vision:  "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I AM Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."

 

[Note:  Many students of God's Word believe the seven churches represent both real churches, and that each represents a period of Church History.  See the article by Elmer Towns in The David A. Wood, Tim Lahaye Prophecy Study Bible, p. 1365.  It is also mentioned in The Scofield Study Bible, p. 1353, and The Ryrie Study Bible, p. 1921.  For example, the end of the Church Age is described as having two groups of "believers"; the Church in Philadelphia represents true believer who will experience the Rapture of the Church (Rev. 3:10), while the Church of the Laodiceans, a word meaning "the people rule," will remain on earth during the Tribulation because Christ is not a part of their superficial religiosity (Rev. 3:20)!]

FUTURE TENSE: 

Rev. 4:1-22:15 - The Tribulation, The Millennium, and Eternity!

With the removal to born again believers (Rev. 3:10; Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Th. 4:13-18), The Tribulation, also known as "The Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7) and "Daniel's Seventieth Week" (Dan. 9:24-27) a period of seven years divided into two halves consisting of "a time, times, and a half time" (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 12:14); "forty-two months" (Rev. 11:2; 13:5); and "one thousand, two hundred and three score days" (Rev. 11:3; 12:6); will take place (Rev. 6:1-19:11).

Following The Tribulation, Christ returns in Glory and destroys the enemies of His people, Israel (Rev. 19:11-21).  For the next 1000 years, The Millennium, Satan is bound and Christ rules on earth (Rev. 20:1-6).  Satan is then released to deceive mankind into turning on Israel; after he gathered the nations of the world together, "fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them" (Rev. 20:7-9)!

After Satan and his minions are defeated, Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:14), where the antichrist and false prophet were sent at Christ's Second Coming (Rev. 19:20).  The final event to take place on this planet, will be The Great White Throne Judgment; born again believers will not face this judgment, because our sins were paid for by the One in Whom we placed our faith, Jesus Christ at Calvary!  This judgment is for all of the dead who rejected God's free gift of salvation; their names will not be in the Lamb's Book of Life (Rev. 20:11-15).  Sadly, they will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.

The last two chapters tell of a New Heaven and a New Earth, where we will dwell with God forever!  Though we were no more worthy of heaven than those cast into the Lake of Fire, because we believed the Gospel which declared that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that God raised Him from the Dead, also according to the Scriptures, our sin was replaced by the very righteousness of God Himself (1 Cor. 15:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21)!  When we see Jesus face-to-face, we will be transformed into His very likeness, righteous and eternal (1 Jn. 3:2)!

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO CHRIST'S RETURN?

ARE YOU DREADING HIS RETURN?

OR DO YOU REJECT THE IDEA ALL TOGETHER?

WHAT YOU BELIEVE WILL DETERMINE WHERE YOU SPEND ETERNITY!

 

THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE BELIEVER

Mine eyes have seen the splendor of the glory of the Lord,
We behold Him in the mirror of the Word, the Spirit’s sword,
Christ the God-Man now in glory, is forever more adored,
Christ is our victory!

As we dwell upon the Savior and the cross-work He's performed,
We from glory unto glory in His image are transformed,
To the world we died with Jesus; we refuse to be conformed, 
Christ is our victory!

Christ arose and now is seated at His Father’s own right hand,
With Him risen, we’re positioned in that fair and heavenly land,
Looking always unto Jesus, we from heaven take our stand,
Christ is our victory!

Causing hearts to love the world and hoarding treasures here below,
‘Tangling soldiers in the earthly, ‘tis the tactic of our foe,
Though the battle for our hearts and minds still rages yet we know,
Christ is our victory!

On the cross our foes defeated, hardship gladly we endure,
Marching in His strength and power, for my weakness He’s the cure,
Christ in us the hope of glory, we in Him, the conquest sure,
Christ is our victory!

Chorus:

Glory, glory, hallelujah, Glory, glory, hallelujah,
Glory, glory, hallelujah, Christ is our victory!

To the tune of The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Words by James Delany, Pastor of the Salem Bible Church, Salem, NH. 

GOD'S FOREKNOWLEDGE

Jeremiah 1:4-5 - "Then the Word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

Acts 2:22-27 - "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death:  because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.  For David speaketh concerning Him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:  therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:  because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption."

Romans 8:28-34 - "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.  For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestine to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestine, them He also called:  and whom He called, them He also justified:  and whom He justified, them He also glorified.  What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?  It is God Who justifieth.  Who is He that condemneth?  It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

Ephesians 1:3-6 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:  having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved."

1 Peter 1:1-5 - "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:  grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not 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."

Revelation 13:5-8 - "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."

GOD IS WAITING FOR CHRIST'S BODY TO BE COMPLETE!

IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN HIS BOOK OF LIFE?

LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO!

THE HEART OF THE UNBELIEVER

Romans 1:21 - "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

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."

THE HEART OF THE TRUE BELIEVER

Leviticus 22:29 - "And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will."

2 Samuel 22:50 - "Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto Thy name."

1 Chronicles 16:8, 34 - "Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people....O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever."

Psalm 69:30 - "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving."

Psalm 95:2 - "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms."

Psalm 100:4 - "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name."

Psalm 147:7 - "Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God."

1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God, Who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Philippians 4:6 - "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Colossians 2:6-7 - "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:  rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

Colossians 3:15 - "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

1 Timothy 4:4 - "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving."

Revelation 7:11-12 - "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever.  Amen."

IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST PAID FOR YOUR SINS,

IT IS IMPOSSILE FOR YOU TO BE UNGRATEFUL OR EVEN SILENT!

LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO!