See, See, SEE! (That You Not Be Troubled!)

Wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes. How can this NOT be troubling?

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Matthew 24:6-8 KJV

The Bible translators added punctuation as they saw fit, so I feel free to change it. (See my post about God not being a child abuser.) I was thinking about this passage today. I added one comma, and suddenly joy burst forth in my inner being!

See, that ye not be troubled.

See! Get heaven’s viewpoint.

The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:24 ESV

See: that ye not be troubled. What is going on now, and what will happen, is the Father’s “Plan A.” The seven-sealed scroll is in His right hand!

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
Revelation 5:1 ESV

See — that ye not be troubled. The white horse, the red horse, the black horse and the pale horse are God’s “Plan A.” Further, I believe God’s character is such that this plan results in the maximum number of people getting saved.

God is love.
1 John 4:8

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
Ezekiel 18:23 ESV

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV

See! (That ye not be troubled!) God will protect His people!

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
Psalms 91:1-8 ESV

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

Meditate on the benefits of being an overcomer!

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

For a Friend

Jesus wept.
John 11:35 ESV

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8 NLT

Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Psalm 30:5 ESV

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:7 NIV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:6-10 ESV

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8 ESV

For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
Psalm 56:13 ESV

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:24 ESV

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Homesick

Shortly after I got saved way back in 1979, certain Bible passages speaking of peace began to leap off the pages into my heart. I love Isaiah 55.

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the LORD,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
Isaiah 55:12-13 ESV

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:1-5 ESV

The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
they break forth into singing.
Isaiah 14:7 ESV

They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 11:9 ESV

This verse began to be true in me.

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:23 ESV

I was becoming homesick. I was, and am, longing to be with God.

Many Christians feel homesick too. These are the lyrics to Petra’s song, Not of This World. Youtube.

We are pilgrims in a strange land
We are so far from our homeland
With each passing day it seems so clear
This world will never want us here
We’re not welcome in this world of wrong
We are foreigners who don’t belong

[Chorus]
We are strangers, we are aliens
We are not of this world

We are envoys, we must tarry
With this message we must carry
There’s so much to do before we leave
With so many more who may believe
Our mission here can never fail
And the gates of hell will not prevail

Jesus told us men would hate us
But we must be of good cheer
He has overcome this world of darkness
And soon we will depart from here

It seems the closer I get to God, the more aware I am that I am incompatible with earth in its current sin-stained form.

Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.
Psalms 55:9-11 ESV

I believe this “homesickness” is natural and good for the believer.

The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:24 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 ESV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2 ESV

keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
Jude 1:21 ESV

When life gets tough, and if you find yourself thinking about, um, “graduation,” know you’re not the first.

My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me,
and horror overwhelms me.
And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest;
yes, I would wander far away;
I would lodge in the wilderness;
Selah”
Psalms 55:4-7 ESV

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21 ESV

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said:

“Let the day perish on which I was born,
and the night that said,
‘A man is conceived.’
Let that day be darkness!
May God above not seek it,
nor light shine upon it.”
Job 3:1-4 ESV

But hang in there! God is faithful!

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
Revelation 19:11 ESV

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Romans 16:20 ESV

Meditate on the benefits of being an overcomer! It does indeed get better!

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Be an Overcomer!

I’ve been reading Revelation a lot recently. I suppose a lot of people have been. For my own benefit I’m going to list the benefits of being an overcomer, as given in the letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3.

The overcomer gets much!

• The overcomer gets to eat from the tree of life.
• The overcomer gets a crown of life.
• The overcomer is not hurt by the second death.
• The overcomer gets some of the hidden manna.
• The overcomer gets a white stone with a new name on it, that only the overcomer understands.
• The overcomer gets authority over the nations, to rule with a rod of iron.
• The overcomer gets the morning star.
• The worthy get to walk with Jesus, dressed in white.
• The overcomer gets to be dressed in white.
• The overcomer’s name will never be blotted out of the book of life.
• Jesus will acknowledge the overcomer’s name before the Father and his angels.
• The overcomer has an open door that no one can shut.
• The synagogue of Satan congregants will fall at the overcomer’s feet and acknowledge Jesus’ love for them.
• “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.” Revelation 3:10 KJV
• The overcomer gets to be a pillar in the temple of God.
• Jesus writes on the overcomer the name of His God, the new Jerusalem, and Jesus’ new name.
• The overcomer gets to sit with Jesus on His throne.

That’s quite a list!

If one doesn’t overcome, this list applies.

• Shame and everlasting contempt.
• Eternal punishment.
• Judgment according to your deeds.
• Thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death.

Which do you want, the tree of life or the second death?

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

How to Fellowship?

A recent Facebook post wondered how many of us who consider the “Revelation 12 Sign” significant feel conflicted about attending church. By the comments, lots of us do. I “attend” Paul Begley’s online church.

However, this verse is in the Bible:

Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 BSB

Any thoughts how to do this in these last 40-ish days? Years ago I participated in business telephone conference calls with people in a half-dozen or more locations, in several time zones. It was a bit awkward, but it worked.

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Oh, Really? Only the Father Knows the Day and the Hour?

I hear this verse a lot.

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
Matthew 24:36 ESV

That was true when it was spoken, around A.D. 30, but I don’t believe it is true anymore. Of course, I could be wrong. But consider this verse, written after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Revelation 1:1 KJV

The “Revelation 12 Sign” sets a very specific date and time:

For those who choose not to get ready, Jesus promises to come as a thief. To me, this strongly suggests He knows when He is showing up.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Revelation 3:3 KJV

The promise to watching believers is His appearing will not be a surprise.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1 Thessalonians 5:4 KJV

Jesus made everything. He knows how it all works together.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:3 KJV

How could Jesus not know when He was on earth? He had emptied himself. He was operating as a man. I discuss this in this blog post. Between the time Jesus ascended into heaven and the revelation given to John, the Father and the Son had to have had a chat about upcoming events for this verse to be true.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Revelation 1:1 KJV

All knowledge is hidden in Christ.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:1-3 ESV

Are there other Bible passages that were true at one time, but have been superseded? I suggest that this is a candidate.

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
Genesis 22:14 KJV

I highly recommend you watch this video. The slides in this post came from it.

Jesus is coming soon! Be ready! I think Jesus knows when He is returning, but if not, the Father definitely knows! Be ready!

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

End-Days Martha and Mary

Maybe I’m the only one, but sometimes I can feel fairly frantic when I think about the very real possibility that the harpazo — the rapture, the catching-away — is imminent. My thoughts seem to drop easily into one of three ruts, and it can be difficult to climb back out.

1. Indescrible excitement and joy. This is it! The HalleluYah times are about to begin! My redemption is drawing nigh!
2. Near panic and terror. Am I really ready, right now, to step into eternity? 
3. Thoughts about how to reach family, friends, and the world at large, who don’t seem to be ready, and don’t seem to care.

Meditating on this passage is helping. 

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 ESV

The most important thing is to make sure I am spending enough time with Jesus!

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

The Hope That Purifies

I don’t know if it will be later tonight or 50 years from now, but I’m expecting to see Jesus soon. I am finding myself discarding things of low and negative value. Truly, the hope I have of seeing God is indeed purifying me!

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:13 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
1 John 3:1-3 ESV

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Reversing Bad Financial Decisions

Having made a few poor financial decisions, this passage caught my eye and heart.

Then Amaziah assembled the men of Judah and set them by fathers’ houses under commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He mustered those twenty years old and upward, and found that they were 300,000 choice men, fit for war, able to handle spear and shield. He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel for 100 talents of silver. But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, with all these Ephraimites. But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down.” And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”
2 Chronicles 25:5-9 ESV

God can restore years of setbacks.

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.
Joel 2:25 ESV

This is a good article: God Will Restore Your Wasted Years! David Wilkerson, 1990.

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

HalleluYah Scriptures – 2 Thess 2:3

As discussed in this post, I ordered a copy of the  HalleluYah Scriptures in July. It came today. 🙂 It will take getting used to, but I already like it. Images

It translates 2 Thess 2:3 as “falling away,” not “the departure.”

 

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.