THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE

As this world rapidly descends into a God-less, lawless, reprobate planet, false prophets abound and many who will cry "Lord, Lord," will only truly believe in Jesus when they are forced to stand before His Great White Throne Judgment (Mt. 7:21-23; Rom. 1:28; Rev. 20:11-15)!  The vast majority of this world's population has heard about Jesus, but the god of this world has blinded them from "seeing Him" as their Lord and Savior (2 Cor. 4:4).  Not only that, but believe it or not, it is quite likely that a very large proportion of people who claim to be Christians, are C.I.N.O.'s (Christian in name only)!  According to Revelation 3:1-5, and 14-22, "the Church in Sardis," and "the Church of the Laodiceans," are described as being dead (v. 1), and as being "lukewarm" (v. 15-16)!  I truly believe the reason these churches describe so-called believers in such a fashion, is because neither of them view Jesus Christ as Lord, as the authority in their lives.

"Tucked in between" the "dead church" (v. 1) and the "Christ-less church" (v. 20), is the church representing genuine believers:  "the Church in Philadelphia" (v. 7-13).  John wrote this about the faithful Church in Philadelphia, an ancient city in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey):  "And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works..." (v. 7-8)!  While "religious works" cannot save a person, (Eph. 2:9), those who are born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, will be "doing good works" because of reverence for, and gratitude to, Him (Eph. 2:10; Jam. 1:22-27; 2:17-20).  Earlier, I made reference to Matthew 7:21-23; let's look at what it says:

"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 which is in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name?  And in Thy name have cast out devils?  And in Thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity."

What is "the will of My Father?"  John 6:28-29 says:  "Then said they 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 ye believe on Him whom He hath sent."  Notice that the only "works" God requires for salvation, is for us to "believe on" Jesus.  Man is not born again by doing something; he is saved by believing on Jesus!   That is, those who truly believe that Jesus died for their sins, that He was buried, but that God raised Him from the dead in order that He might become their Lord  (Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-4).  Then in 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul wrote:  "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."

Who is Jesus?  He is Lord!  Those who believe in Him, want to obey Him!

JESUS IS GOD

In the Old Testament, God identified Himself:  "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Ex. 3:14).  The Hebrew word is  יְהֹוָה (Yĕhovah), and it is translated LORD 6509 times, GOD 4 times, and JEHOVAH 4 times according to  Strong's Concordance of the King James Version of the Bible. In his New Testament Gospel, the Apostle John clearly identified Jesus as "I AM."  Here are a few examples:

John 5:43 - "I AM Come in My Father's Name, and ye receive Me not:  if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive."

John 6:35 - "And Jesus said unto them, I AM The Bread of Life:  he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst."

John 8:12 - "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I AM The Light of the World: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 

John 8:58 - "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM."

John 9:5 - "As long as I am in the world, I AM The Light of the World."

John 10:9 - "I AM The Door:  by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."

John 10:11- "I AM The Good Shepherd:  the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep."

John 10:36 - "Say ye of Him, Whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I AM The Son of God?"

John 11:25 - "Jesus said unto her, I AM The Resurrection, and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

John 13:13 - "Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I AM."

John 14:6 - "Jesus saith unto him, I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."

John 15:1 - "I AM The True Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman."

John 15:5 - I AM The Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing."

John 18:5-6 - "They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I AM. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.  As soon then as He had said unto them, I AM, they went backward, and fell to the ground. -

John 18:37 - "Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art Thou a king then?  Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I AM a King.  To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice."

John 19:21 - "Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He said, I AM King of the Jews."

In the first verse of John's Gospel, he  declares that Jesus is truly God.  He wrote:  "In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God."  And just so we understand Who he means by "The Word," in verse fourteen, he wrote:  "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." 

When you believe in the Jesus of the Bible, you are believing  in God!

BAD NEWS FOR AMERICA

The barn is burned to the ground, and all the horses are already dead; calling the fire department serves no purpose other than to have them tell you not to play with matches! The only reason we believe Christians can turn this suicide dive around, is because we do not know God's Word. America began its fall from grace following World War Two, when we began to think we were a super-power, and started intimidating other nations by threat of force, or by "financial encentive." The assassinations of good leaders, Black and White, the "free-love hippies," the so called "war on poverty," the election of crooks, socialists, and idiots has led us to self-destruction!  Now, when America is weaker than at any time in my lifetime, and people are still calling America the last super power!  Really? 

America does not appear as a super-power, or a "player" in the rise of Antichrist, and because we have turned our backs on Israel, what grace we did receive has ended! The stage is set; the players have already chosen up "teams," and it is just a matter of time (not much, I am afraid) before Gog, Magog, and the armies of the East and South turn their plans to invade Israel a reality!. 

But don't mind me, I am just an old man who is tired of listening to "Polly-Anna" theologians who preach what the masses want to hear!  They say, "because God never changes, He will bless our nation as He has in the past." WRONG!  Read Romans 1; read Ezekiel 37-39; read Matthew 24, read Daniel 9, read 2 Timothy 3, read Revelation, especially chapter 3!  The time has come!

And do you know why our world is about to experience the wrath of God?  For one simple reason:  man no longer fears God!  The Bible warns man, from Genesis to Revelation:  FEAR GOD! (Gen. 42:18; Ex. 18:21; Job 1:9; Ps. 66:16; Lk. 23:40; Acts 13:16; 1 Pet. 2:17; Rev. 14:7)!!!

Then, there are the Christians who love to quote 1 John 4:18 which says:  "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear:  because fear has torment.  He that fears is not made perfect."

The verse is true, as are all Bible verses, but there is one catch:  who among us is perfect?  God is presently working on us toward that goal (Rom. 8:28-29; Phil. 1:6; etc.), but to be perfect, we need to be like Jesus.  According to 1 John 3:2, that does not occur until we see Jesus face-to-face!  He wrote:

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth 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."

Our nation is doomed, but you do not have to be!
Accept the fact that Jesus is the Lord!

He is the One and only Savior (Jn. 14:6; Rom. 10:9-10; etc.)! 

If you do not want to "go down with the ship," fear God!

CONTRASTS BETWEEN THE TRUTH AND THE LIAR

Contrasts between Christ and the Antichrist

(From Larkin's Dispensational Truth)

1. Christ came from Above.  Jn. 6:38

   Antichrist ascends from The Pit.  Rev. 11:7

    
2. Christ came in His Father's name.  Jn. 5:43

    Antichrist comes in his Own name.  Jn. 5:43

     
3. Christ Humbled Himself.  Phil. 2:8

     Antichrist Exalts himself.  2 Th. 2:4  

4. Christ Despised.  Isa. 53:3; Lk.23:18

Antichrist Admired.  Rev. 13:3-4

5. Christ Exalted in Heaven.  Phil. 2:9

    Antichrist Bound in Hell.  Isa. 14:14-15; Rev. 19:20 

6. Christ to do His Father's will.  Jn. 6:38

    Antichrist to do his Own will.  Dan. 11:36  

7. Christ came to Save.  Lk. 19:10  

    Antichrist comes to Destroy.  Dan. 8:24  

8. Christ is the Good Shepherd.  Jn. 10:4-6    

    Antichrist is the Idol (evil) Shepherd. Zech. 11:16-17 

9. Christ is the "True Vine."  Jn. 15:1  

    Antichrist is the "Vine of the Earth."  Rev. 14:18  

10. Christ is the "Truth."  Jn. 14:6  

       Antichrist is the "Lie."   2 Th. 2:11 

11. Christ is the "Holy One."  Mk. 1:24 

      Antichrist is the "Wicked One."  2 Th. 2:8  

12. Christ is the "Man of Sorrows."  Isa. 53:3  

       Antichrist is the "Man of Sin."  2 Th. 2:3  

13. Christ is the "Son of God."  Lk. 1:35  

       Antichrist is the "Son of Perdition."  2 Th. 2:3  

14. Christ, "Mystery of Godliness," God in the flesh. 1 Tim. 3:16 

   Antichrist, "Mystery of Iniquity," Satan in the flesh.  2 Th. 2:7  

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE INCLUDES REPENTANCE

When the Apostle Paul defined the Gospel, he made it clear for all to understand; he wrote:
"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 there are many witnesses) 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" (1 Cor. 15:1-6).

Notice that the reason Christ died, was to pay the penalty for our sins!  Paul also wrote:  "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" (Gal. 1:3-4).  Paul called the Gospel "...the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth..." (Rom. 1:16).  Later in his epistle to the Romans, he wrote:  "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

The Apostle John confirmed the saving power of the  Gospel as well; he wrote:  "And He is the propitiation (the satisfaction of the payment necessary) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 Jn. 2:2).  And again, he wrote:  "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that (God) loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 Jn. 4:10).

Some of you may have noticed that the word "repentance" does not appear in any of the quoted verses above, and you would be correct.  However, let's look at what IS said:  Jesus died for our sins; "...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)!  Knowing that, and believing that, has to result in repentance (a desire to turn from sin, and serve God)!

The Gospel of Luke demands that repentance be preached WITH the Gospel; Luke wrote: 
"Then (Jesus) opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  and that REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS ("remission" means the forgiveness or pardon of sin) should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Lk. 24:45-47).  And in 2 Corinthians 7:10, Paul wrote:  "For GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE TO SALVATION not to be repented of:  but the sorrow of the world worketh death."  The perfect example of the wrong kind of repentance is seen in the repentance of Judas (Mt. 27:3-5)!

JESUS DIE FOR YOU - IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE IT, LIVE FOR HIM!

CHRISTIANS, DO NOT FOCUS UPON THE BAD NEWS

In a day when the News is filled with horrible atrocities, anarchy, abuse, corruption, violence, racism, threats of war, etc., it is very easy to be discouraged!  And yet, there are two passages of Scripture which describe our world just prior Christ's return.  They are found in Romans 1:18-32 and 2 Timothy 3:1-5.  Yes, I know those things existed in Paul's day, even perhaps from the beginning of this world following Adam's fall (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12, 19), but today, they are literally the dominate characteristic of the vast majority of mankind.  Galatians 5:19-21 tells us how men without faith in God, act: 

"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."

The apostle Paul also wrote these words of encouragement found in Philippians 4:4-9:

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

God, despite what we might think, is still in control!  His plans are not subject to man's approval, but are going to be played out regardless of what Satan does to try to circumvent them!  He tried to kill Baby Jesus, he tried to tempt the Man Christ Jesus, and failing to accomplish that, he has turned his attention to destroying both Israel and the Church.  He WILL NOT SUCCEED!  I read the end of the book, and this is his future; it is written in Revelation 20:7-10:

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

So, no matter how things look today, remember, in the end, God's children win!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN BY "CONFESS"

As a former Roman Catholic, I frequently "went to confession."  I would declare my sins, and the Priest would tell me what I had to do to get forgiveness.  Usually, it was saying a few "Hail Marys," or when I had really messed up, he would tell me I needed to recite the Rosary a few times.  The Rosary, for non-Catholics, is a series of declarations; they basically are as follows:  Make the Sign of the Cross.  Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles' Creed, then "Our Father,"  three "Hail Marys," one "Glory Be," fifty more "Hail Marys," then one "Holy Queen."   I no longer claim any denomination, but recognize I am a born again believer by faith in the one and only Mediator:  Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5).  I also recognize that I am still a sinner, and that, according to 1 John 1:9, I need to acknowledge my sin to God,  and ask for His cleansing. 

As can be seen from the twelve passages below, to confess something, is to acknowledge it as fact.  Salvation (the new birth - John 3:1-18).  Jesus, God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14), must be acknowledged as one's Lord (Romans 10:9)!   [He is the Son of God]

       Matthew 10:32 - "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven."  [Son of God]
       Luke 12:8-9 - "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:  But he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God."  [He is the Son of Man]
       John 1:20 - "And (John the baptizer) confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ."  [John acknowledged the truth - he was not the Christ]
       John 9:22 - "These words spoke his parents, because they feared the Jews:  for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue."  [Confessing Christ publically has consequences]
       Acts 23:8 - "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit:  but the Pharisees confess both."  [They acknowledged both]
       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."  [See John 14:6]
       Romans 10:9-11 - "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."  [He is Lord]
       Hebrews 11:13 - "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."  [Acknowledged they were citizens of heaven]
       1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  [Agree with the Word that what I did was a sin]
       1 John 4:2-3 - "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:  Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:  and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."  [Confessing Him shows we are God's]
       1 John 4:15 - "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."  [God, the Spirit, indwells born again believers (John 14:17; Acts 5:3-4)]
       2 John 2:17 - "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.  This is a deceiver and an antichrist."  [All who refuse to confess Jesus are against Him]

Salvation is the result of believing in Jesus Christ as your Lord,

and acknowledging Him publically!

GOD'S WILL SHALL BE DONE - EVENTUALLY!

God's desire was that mankind would be like Him.  God is Holy.  God is Righteous.  God is Just.  And had Adam not sinned, he would have remained "like God."  Ironically, when Adam was tempted by Satan, the devil told Eve that she was not yet "like God," but all she had to do was eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and she would become "like God."  The outcome, was in fact, the exact opposite:  when Adam and Eve doubted God, and ate of the forbidden fruit, they ceased to  be "like God!"  Truth be told, it was Satan's rebellious desire to be like God, that brought about his being cast down to the earth!

Genesis 1:26-27 - "And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness:  and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them."  [Note:  v.27 does not include the word "likeness, but Gen. 5:1 tells us Adam and Eve were in fact made after God's likeness.]

Genesis 5:1-3 - "This is the book of the generations of Adam.  In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him; male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.  And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth."  [Note:  Following the fall of Adam, his offspring are said to be "made in his own likeness," not God's.  Apparently Cain and Abel were also in Adam's image, since they were expected to offer animal sacrifices. (Gen.4:1-7)]

Psalm 17:15 - "As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness."  [Note:  The psalmist knew he would be resurrected in God's likeness; in other words, he also knew he was not yet like God.]

Isaiah 40:18 - "To whom then will ye liken God?   Or what likeness will ye compare unto Him?"  [Note:  It is clear that there is nothing found in all of creation, that is like God!]

Acts 14:11 - "And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men."  [Note:  Even though they were unbelievers, they knew that man was inferior to even their gods.]

Romans 8:3 - "For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh."  [Note:  Although Jesus is God (Jn. 1:1, 14), He became like men, a fact made more obvious in the next quote.]

Philippians 2:5-8 - "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."  [Note:  When Jesus took on human form, as a human, He was not like God, but like men.]

One day, God's desire for man to be made in the image and likeness of Himself, will become a reality once again; born again believers will be resurrected or raptured into His likeness (1 Cor. 15:50-52; 1 Th. 4:16-17):

1 John 3:1-2 - "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth 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."

THERE IS POWER ONLY IN HIS BLOOD!

Matthew 26:28 - "For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

John 6:53-56 - "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.  Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.  He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him." (See 1 Corinthians below)

Acts 20:28 - "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood."

Romans 5:9 - "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."

1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:25-27 - "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? - 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 ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come.  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord."

Ephesians 1:7; 2:13 - "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. - But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

Colossians 1:14, 20 - "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins....And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

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

1 Peter 1:19 - "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of (The Lamb) without blemish and without spot."

1 John 1:7 - "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Revelation 1:5-6 - "And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.  Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen."

"Now the God of peace, (Who)  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" (Heb. 13:20-21)

IS THE RAPTURE TAUGHT IN SCRIPTURE?

YES!  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, is known as the "Rapture Passage."  It, along with John 14:1-6, and 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, make it clear that born again believers will be caught up to meet Jesus Christ in the air.  Unfortunately, the word "rapture" does not appear in either the Greek or the King James Version of the Bible.  A form of it does appear in the Latin Vulgate, where it is rendered "rapiemur."  In English, when someone is said to be "caught up" in love, or in a piece of music, or in a beautiful sunset, frequently the word used is "enraptured."  All of the verses below have one thing in common:  they all include the Greek word ἁρπάζω (harpazō), which as can be seen from these texts, speaks of "being removed by force":  

Matthew 13:19 - "When any one heareth the Word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.  This is he which received seed by the way side."
John 6:15 - "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone."
John 10:12, 28-29 - "But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep....And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  My Father, (Who) gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand." 
Acts 8:39 - "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."
Acts 23:10 - "And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle."
2 Corinthians 12:2-4  - "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."
1 Thessalonians 4:17 - "Then we which 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."
Revelation 12:5 - "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."

God will once again be dealing with Israel and not the Church, during the future seven-year Tribulation, also known as "Daniel's Seventieth Week" (Dan. 9:27) and "The Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7).  This period will be the out-pouring of the wrath of God on Israel and those who reject His Son (Rev. 6:16-17); but the Lord will not allow His true believers to experience it (1 Th. 5:9; Rev. 3:10).  We will be "raptured" before the Tribulation begins.

Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord?  Time is short!

DO NOT PUT IT OFF! 

THE RAPTURE, THE TRIBULATION, THE SECOND COMING

After years of anticipation that the Lord would return for His Church at any moment, I have come to the sad conclusion that many modern-day prophets keep writing books, making DVD's, and holding prophecy conferences, simply for the profits.  Don't get me wrong; I certainly believe in the Rapture of the Church prior to the seven-year Tribulation, but now, more than ever, I understand why the Rapture of the Church is still a mystery (1 Cor. 15:51-53).  That is because no man knows when it will happen, not even Jesus knew (Mk. 13:32-33)!  However, some will say, that passage is talking about the Second Coming of Christ, and they would be correct.  So what does that have to do with the Church not knowing when the Rapture will take place?  The answer is really quite simple; the Second Coming of Christ immediately follows the Tribulation (Mt. 24:29-30), but no one knows how much time will pass between the Rapture and the Tribulation! 

The Tribulation occurs after the Rapture of the Church.  We know this from the other names for the Tribulation:  "The Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7), and "Daniel's Seventieth Week" (Dan. 9:27). 
And we know this, is from the Book of Revelation.  Revelation is divided into three parts:  the past, the present, and the future, all from John's perspective (Rev. 1:19).  Chapter one describes what John had already seen.  Chapters two and three describe what is known as the Church Age.  Revelation 4:1 is a symbolic picture of John representing the Church.  He is caught up to heaven; the same thing is said of the Church (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Th.4:13-18).  From 4.1, unto the Second Coming described in Revelation 19, the Church is not mentioned as being on earth; it isn't even mentioned in chapter nineteen, but we know the Church will return with Christ, because the Word says so; we will be ever with our Lord (1 Th. 4:17)! 

"Daniel's Seventieth Week" is divided into two halves by the prince of the people who destroyed Jerusalem (Dan. 9:26-27; Rome, 70 A.D.).  Israel will agree to a seven-year peace "treaty" with the prince.  They believe he is their long-awaited Messiah, but right in the midst of the seven years (1260 days - Rev. 11:3; 42 months - Rev. 11:2; a time, times, and half a time - Dan. 12:7), he commits the Abomination of Desolation (Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Mt. 24:15; Rev. 13:6), Israel's eyes are opened and they head for the hills (Mt. 24:16; Rom. 11:25)!  If the Church was still here when the covenant is confirmed, we would not only warn Israel of the identity of the "prince," but would explain Daniel 9:27 to them! 

So, everything is timed based upon Daniel 9:27.  No one knows when the Rapture will take place, but we do know that it does not apply to the Church; God has not appointed us to wrath (1 Th. 5:9 - the Tribulation is known as "God's wrath" - Isa. 13:6; Zeph. 1:14; Rev. 6:17). And therefore, no one knows when the Tribulation will begin; once it begins, the timing of the Abomination of Desolation and the Second Coming will be set.  Now, if Jesus didn't know when the Second Coming would be, and we know it immediately follows the Tribulation, which follows the Rapture, and no one knows how much time passes between the Rapture and the Tribulation, therefore, no one knows when the Rapture will occur!

The important thing is this:  Do you believe Jesus Christ deserves to be your Lord?

When He does come for born again believers, will you be one of them? 

FIRST MERCY, THEN GRACE

Much as been said (and sung) about God's grace, but it has been my experience to discover that many of those who speak of, and sing of, God's grace, do not understand it.  And before I try to explain it, I must say that my own understanding has grown (in baby-steps) over the forty-five years I have been a born again believer.  I am certain that I will still be learning of His grace till the day I meet Him face-to-face (1 Jn. 3:2)!  "Grace" has been defined as "unmerited favor."  Another "definition" is:  God's Riches At Christ's Expense.  Grace from God is not possible unless He has already granted us His mercy.  Before He gives us eternal life, He first must show us mercy by allowing His Son Jesus to pay the penalty we owe Him due to our sin!  So, "Grace" is getting something we do not deserve; "Mercy" is not getting what we DO deserve!"  May these passages be a blessing to you:

"...God (demonstrated) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified (that is, made right with God) by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath (the judgment of God on unrepentant sinners) through (faith in) 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 (that), but we also (rejoice) in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (in Whom, because of our faith in Him) we have now received the atonement (the satisfaction of God's justice has been applied to our account).  For if by (Adam's sin, all men die); much more (those who) receive (God's) abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by (faith in) Jesus Christ.  Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to (their) condemnation; even so, by the righteousness of One, the free gift (of salvation by faith) came upon all men unto justification of life" (Rom. 5:8-11, 17-18 - Paul Mutschler Version).

"For the (biblical payment for) sin is death (see Rom. 3:23); but the gift of God is eternal life through (faith in) Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23 - PMV).

"And you has He (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins; (which) in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  among whom also we all had our (life style) in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were, by nature, the children of wrath, even as (are all mankind).  But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, (He has made us alive) together with Christ - by grace you are saved - And (He) hath 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 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" (Eph. 2:1-9 - PMV).

SAVING FAITH: BELIEVING IS ALWAYS PRESENT TENSE

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

John 3:14-18 - "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 (whether Jew or Gentile) should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (whether Jew or Gentile) believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.  He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God!"

John 6:28-29, 47 - "Then said they 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 ye believe on Him whom He hath sent!"  "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life!"

John 9:35-38 - "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou 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, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him!"

John 14:1-3 - "Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 ye may be also!"

John 20:27-31 - "Then saith (Jesus) to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy 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 saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  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!"

1 John 5:13 -

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;

that ye may know that ye have eternal life...!"

AMERICA: REAPING WHAT WE HAVE SOWN

Three days after our nation celebrated our 240th year of independence, at least eleven police officers have been shot in Dallas; mobs of Muslims threaten to rape non-Muslim women in America's cities; our government has been anti-Israel, anti-life, and anti-democracy for the past seven years; the rich and powerful, though declared guilty of breaking the law, do not have charges brought against them; racism is worse today than it has been since the days of Martin Luther King, Jr.; our economy is "in the toilet" with a national debt of over eighteen trillion; our military is leaderless; our schools spend more time on controlling rebellious behavior than they do teaching; and nearly one half of our citizens are being supported by taxpayers!  Is it any wonder that born again believers are longing for their Lord's return?  He is our only hope!  Nearly two thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul described modern-day America:

ROMANS 1:18-32 (Based on the NLT)

     "But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.  They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them.  For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky.  Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature.  So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

     Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks.  And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  As a result, their minds became dark and confused.  Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.  And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

     So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.  They traded the truth about God for a lie.  So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise!  Amen.  That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires.  Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.  And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other.  Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

     Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.  Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.  They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful.  They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.  They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.  They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway.  Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too."

America is too far gone for man to save it - only Almighty God can do that - so PRAY!

THE CHURCH AND THE FEASTS OF THE LORD

THE FOUR FEASTS THAT HAVE BEEN FULFILLED

The Feast of Passover - Christ as the Passover Lamb of God - 1 Corinthians 5:7 - "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.  For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."

The Feast of Unleavened Bread - Christ's sinless life - John 6:35 - 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." --- "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."

The Feast of First Fruits - Christ's Resurrection - 1 Corinthians 5:21-23 - "For since by man came death, by Man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order: Christ the First Fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming."

The Feast of Wave Loaves (Pentecost - two leavened loaves - the birth of the Church made up of Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ, who still struggle with sin - See Rom. 7:15-25; 1 Jn. 1:8-10) - Acts 2:1, 47 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." --- "Praising God, and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved."

THE THREE FEASTS WHICH HAVE YET TO BE FULFILLED

The Feast of Trumpets - (represents the Rapture of the Church - 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) "For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which 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 which 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."  (See Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:50-55)

The Feast of the Atonement - (represents the Tribulation and God's grace to the Church - Romans 5:8-11; Revelation 3:10) - "But God commendeth 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 (the Tribulation) 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." --- "Because thou hast kept the Word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

The Feast of Tabernacles - (represents the Church reigning with Christ during the Millennium - Revelation 20:6) - "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years."

ALL the fulfilled feasts were literally fulfilled by Christ on the exact day!

SO WILL THE LAST THREE FEASTS!

UNDERSTANDING DANIEL'S SEVENTY WEEKS

Daniel 9:24-27 (KJV) - [24] "Seventy weeks (*four hundred ninety years) are determined upon thy people (Israel) and upon thy holy city (Jerusalem), 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.  [25] Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (*forty-nine years), and threescore and two weeks (*four hundred thirty-four years): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.  [26] And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself (He will die, not for His own sins, as He had no sins - Heb. 4:15, but He died for the sins of the world - Jn. 1:29; 1 Jn. 2:2): and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (since Roman destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the future "prince" will be from the Roman Empire); and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.  [27] And he (the future "Roman prince") shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (*seven years): and in the midst of the week (*1260 days; or 42 months; or a time, times, and half a time) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate (see Mt. 24:15; Rev. Ch. 13), even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

*    "Weeks" must refer to seven-year periods, because verse 27 describes the last "week" as being     divided into to halves.  Each of the two halves is defined as being:
1) Twelve hundred and sixty (1260) days (Revelation 12:6,14). This would be
             equivalent to 3½ years and also equivalent to 42 months (of 30 days).

2) Forty-two (42) months (Revelation 11:2; 13:5).

3) “A time, times, and half a time” (Daniel 12:7; Rev. 12:14) - a “time” equals one year; “times” equals two years; “half a time” equals a half year; for a total
            of three and one half years. 

4) The key:  Half of a week with the week consisting of seven years, hence a
            3½ year period (v. 27).

BIBLE KNOWLEDGE

Most born again believers are serious Bible students, and after a few years of study, they tend to think they truly understand its teachings.  But in reality, a believer could study the Word of God for a thousand years, and he would have barely "scratched the surface!"  The "Theologians" in Jesus' day, were the Pharisees.  They knew the Word backwards and forwards, but they had no clue of its meaning.  Jesus exposed them for what they were:  hypocrites!  In Matthew's Gospel alone, there are ten examples of this:

Matthew 5:21-22 - "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:  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."

Matthew 5:27-28 - "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Matthew 5:31-32 - "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced." committeth adultery."

Matthew 5:33-34 - "Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne."

Matthew 5:38-39 - "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matthew 5:43-44 - "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

Matthew 11:21-22 - "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you."

Matthew 11:23-24 - "And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee."

Matthew 12:5-6 -  "Or have ye not read in the Law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?  But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple."

Matthew 12:35-36 -  "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

I don't know about you, but I have often been absolutely sure of my understanding of God's Word and His will, only to find out later that I missed the whole point.  I have come to believe that the best way to understand, is to make sure you are "on right terms" with the Lord, that you pray for guidance, and that once you believe you understand, ask yourself how to apply it in your life.  Notice I say "your life" - for until you have allowed the Word to change you, I do not recommend you "fix" your brethren!  Ezra 7:10 puts it this way:

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, AND TO DO IT,

and (then) to teach in Israel (its) statutes and judgments."

CLOSED MINDS

In our day of political correctness, when a person is said to have a "closed-mind," that person is being accused of being "rigid, obstinate, averse to the consideration of new ideas or other people's arguments."  Some of the synonyms for "closed-minded" are "narrow-minded, intolerant, prejudiced, or bigoted," and their use is most often guided by the context or subject matter.  In other words, when all else fails in trying to change a person's mind, in frustration, the one debating uses an Argumentum ad hominem (attacks the character or motives of one's opponent).  In one sense, the opponent is "raising a white flag," and admitting defeat.  In another, it indicates that there is now "bad blood" between the two.

The two subjects most often associated with people using an Argumentum ad hominem, are Religion and Politics.  In fact, I cannot recall the number of times I have heard someone say, "I am willing to discuss most anything except Politics or Religion!"  Why?  Because he has already come to a conclusion with which he is comfortable, or he knows that the issues cannot be resolved.  I would describe him as wise, to some extent, because he knows greater minds than his have debated the issues for years, decades, and even some have been unresolved for millennia.

So....Let me give my opinion on Politics:  All men are sinners (Romans 3:23), and as such, they cannot be trusted!  Whether they are Republicans, Democrats, or Independents, because they have "locked themselves into an ideology, they are at the least, biased, or God forbid, they have declared "political jihad!"  The latter can be clearly seen in the behavior of demonstrators picketing Trump's events.  When all else fails, they use threats and violence to discourage people from supporting him.  So, I recommend we choose to support the person whose closest to what we believe is best for our nation.

As for Religion, I do not recommend "picking" the Religion which "feels right," or the one your parents followed, or one that is followed by the majority of people you know; using those criteria will most certainly lead you astray!  Remember, it was the majority that shouted, "Crucify Him!"  I admit that I am 100% biased in believing in the Jesus of the Bible.  He not only taught that faith in Him was necessary for salvation (John 3:14-18), He proved Himself to be Israel's Messiah by signs and miracles (Acts 2:22), and by His Resurrection (Acts 2:32)! 

Yes, I have a closed mind!  Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6)!  He described Himself as "the narrow way" (Matthew 7:13-14), indicating that the vast majority of men will try to reach heaven by the works of some man-made religion, or not try at all.  Salvation is by faith in Christ, and not of religious works (Ephesians 2:8-9); those who place their faith in Him as Lord, out of gratitude, for His dying to cleanse us from sin, will do His will (Ephesians 2:10)!  And those who disagree need to recognize that they have been blinded by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:3-4), God having turned them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28)!

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;

that ye may know that ye have eternal life...." (1 John 5:13)  JESUS IS LORD!

 

THE BIBLE'S CENTRAL THEME: TRUST ME!

2 Samuel 22:31 - "As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is tried:  He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him."  ["His Way" - see Jn. 14:6; "buckler" = a shield]

1 Chronicles 5:20 - "And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them:  for they cried to God in the battle, and He was intreated of them; because they put their trust in Him."  ["Hagarites = a tribe East of the Jordan River]

Job 13:15 - "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him."  ["maintain my own ways" = defend myself before God]

Psalm 2:12 - "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him."  ["Son" - Son of God - Jesus - see Prov. 30:4; Mt. 3:17; Lk. 20:13; Jn. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:17]

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."  [If He is your Lord, follow Him]

Jeremiah 49:11 - "Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in Me."  [Conquer, but do not harm the children or widows - they are My responsibility.]

Nahum 1:7 - "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him."  [God will protect those who belong to Him - the Tribulation - the Time of Jacob's Trouble - Isa. 22:5; 37:3; Jer. 30:7]

2 Corinthians 1:9 - "But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but (trust in) God Who raiseth the dead."  [Because all die - Heb. 9:27 -  we all need a God Who can raise us from the dead - Jn. 11:25]

1 Timothy 4:10 - "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe."  [Believe the Gospel - 1 Cor. 15:3-4 - "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."]

1 Timothy 6:17 - "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but (trust in) the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."  [The Jews believed that riches were given by God to those who were righteous, and yet, the Old Testament clearly says otherwise - Isa. 41:26; 57:1 - also, see Mt. 19:23-26; Rom. 3:10]

To trust in anyone or anything other than Jesus, is a mistake with eternal consequences!

UNDERSTANDING REVELATION

INTRODUCTION

Revelation 1:1-2 - "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:  who bare record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.  [God the Father > God the Son > God's Angel > John > The Seven Churches]]
Revelation 1:19 - the key verse:  "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter."  [Time divided into past, present, and future]

THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAS SEEN

Revelation 1:1-20 - The things which John had seen will have already occurred when John writes the Book of Revelation.

THE THINGS WHICH ARE   

Revelation 2:1 - 3:22 - These two chapters address churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), but they also describe seven historical periods that characterize the Church Age:
*     Ephesus - Went from being the Body to being an organization - 30-100 A.D.
*     Smyrna - Suffered severe persecution by Rome - 100-312 A.D.
*     Pergamum - Unequally yoked with the government - 312-606 A.D.
*     Thyatira - Actually became "the government" - 606 A.D. - go into the Tribulation.
*     Sardis - Division:  Division by denominations - 1520 A.D. - go into the Tribulation.
*     Philadelphia - Love Soul-winning - 1750 A.D. - removed before the Tribulation.
*     Laodicea - "The people rule" - 1900 A.D. - go into the Tribulation.

THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER

Revelation 4:1 - 5:14 - The Rapture is pictured with John being "summoned to heaven."  These two chapter precede the Tribulation.
Revelation 6:1 - 11:19 - The first three and a half years of the Tribulation, in which Israel has peace under the protection of the Antichrist, who they mistake for their Messiah.
Revelation 12:1-17 - 13:3 - John is shown a woman (Israel) who is with child (the true Messiah), and he sees Satan's effort to kill Him.  The true Messiah ascends to heaven and to safety, and Satan take full possession of the Antichrist.  When he declares himself to be God, and commits the Abomination of Desolation, the eyes of Israel are opened and they realize that Jesus had been their Messiah (see Daniel 9:24-27).
Revelation 13:4 - 18:24 - The Great Tribulation (the second half of the seven-year Tribulation - see Matthew 24:15-28).
Revelation 19:1 - 20:15 - The Second Coming of Christ, Who has Satan bound for the next 1000 years, while He rules the earth with a rod of iron!  The Great White Throne Judgment:  Jesus judges individuals based upon what is written in "the books," and those whose names are not in "His Book of Life," are cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:1 - 22:20 - Eternity in the New Heaven and New Earth.  Praise God!

JESUS: CREATOR, SAVIOR, AND LORD

JESUS EXISTED AS GOD BEFORE CREATION

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."

JESUS BECAME HUMAN TO DIE FOR SINNERS

Luke 1:31-35 - "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:  and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy (Child) which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
Philippians 2:5-8 - "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."

THE RESURRECTED JESUS WILL REIGN FOREVER

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - "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."
Revelation 19:11-13 - "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God."
Revelation 22:1-5 - "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  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.  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.  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever."

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU WILL BE SAVED!

DO YOU WANT JUSTICE OR MERCY AND GRACE?

ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, WHAT DOES MAN DESERVE?

*  Ezekiel 18:4 - "Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine:  the soul that sinneth, it shall die."

*  Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

*  Romans 5:12 - "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

*  Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death...."

BUT GOD OFFERS MAN BOTH MERCY AND GRACE IN CHRIST

MERCY DEFINED:  BELIEVERS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE

*  Psalm 6:4 - "Return, O LORD, deliver my soul:  oh save me for Thy mercies' sake."
*  Psalm 31:16 - "Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant:  save me for Thy mercies' sake."
*  Psalm 109:26 - "Help me, O LORD my God:  O save me according to Thy mercy."
*  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."

GRACE DEFINED:  BELIEVERS GETTING WHAT WE DO NOT DESERVE

*  Romans 4:16 - "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all."

*  Romans 11:6 - "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.  But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."

*  Ephesians 2:5, 8 - "Even when we were dead in sins, (God) hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God."

HOW CAN A JUST GOD OFFER MAN BOTH MERCY AND GRACE

*  John 3:14-18 - "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.  He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

*  Romans 3:24-26 - "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; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU WILL BE SAVED!