CHRISTIANS AND THE OCCULT DON'T MIX!

CHRISTIANS AND THE OCCULT DON'T MIX!

Ever see palmistry signs up for reading your future? Ever hear of people wanting to hold a seance? Know anything about Ouija boards? These are things God doesn't want us having anything to do with! Fortune tellers and the like were not anyone to associate with in the old days of the Old Testament, nor are they acceptable to God now. Let's look in the bible at what I'm talking about...
"A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them." (Lev. 20:27) Seems clear enough; you didn't buy all those Harry Potter books, did you? Go to a Harry Potter movie? Wasted money. I knew of this law in Leviticus and stayed away from anything associated with Harry Potter, but when I was ignorant, I didn't find anything wrong with Mary Poppins, that magical nanny of the 60s How many of you have seen all kinds of movies or read stories of witches? "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." (Exod. 22:18) Puts a damper on the story of the good witch of the West, doesn't it? When the U.S. started out as a Christian nation, is it any wonder why the Salem witch trials happened for all those early years? Those people were trying to live by the Old Testament law!

When man or woman have anything to do with the occult, such as human sacrifice, or divination practices, such as an omen interpreter, which would be a palm reader, or practices witchcraft and wizardry (BAD Harry Potter!), or a medium who inquires of the dead, God finds all these practices an abomination! "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee." (Deut. 18:9 - 12) We are to put these types of people out of business by avoiding contributing to their business! Harry Potter books have proven they are the way of the world; look how great a best seller it has been among the nonChristians! Sadly, even some who profess to be Christians have some copies of the books.

People who invoke the service of palm readers and mediums often end up with a negative experience of it. Consider what happened when Saul made the mistake of disobeying God's commandment concerning mediums: "Then said Saul unto his servants, 'Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.' And his servants said to him, 'Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.' And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, 'I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.' And the woman said unto him, 'Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?' And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, 'As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.' Then said the woman, 'Whom shall I bring up unto thee?' And he said, 'Bring me up Samuel.' And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, 'Why hast thou deceived me?' For thou art Saul.' And the king said unto her, 'Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, 'I saw gods ascending out of the earth.' And he said unto her, 'What form is he of?' And she said, 'An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle.' And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. And Samuel said to Saul, 'Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?' And Saul answered, 'I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.' Then said Samuel, 'Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.' Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night." (1 Sam. 28:7 - 20)

People who practice the occult tempt the Lord to anger, and it is written so in the bible. Consider what it says concerning Hephzi-bah's son, Manasseh, who was king in Jerusalem for 55 years: "And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger." (2 Kings 21:6) Many in this country practice a similar evil to Manasseh's passage of his son through the fire, only many in our nation cause their children to pass through the fire of a doctor's abortion tools! Just as God pronounced His judgement on Jerusalem and Judah in 2 Kings 21:12 - 15, so it should come to no surprise if God do the same with many nations of the earth today, which have practiced many abominations to tempt the Lord to anger!

Isaiah spoke several times against giving any heed to people who practiced the occult. Horoscopes are an abomination, and making and reading them and giving them any belief go against God's statutes. Isaiah recommended going to God for answers, not these charlatans! He also spoke against Egypt, because they sought help from foolishness that is found in the occult practices. He even warned of judgment against Babylon for their foolish involvement with occult practices! "And when they shall say unto you, 'Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter': should not a people seek unto their God? For the living to the dead?" (Isa. 8:19) "And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards." (Isa. 19:3) "Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it." (Isa. 47:13 - 14)

For any who read this who have Harry Potter books, or horoscope booklets, or even worse, books on occult practices, or who have even performed these black arts which God condemns, the bible has an example of what to do therein! "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." (Acts 19:18 - 20) Note that while they knew the worldly value of the books, yet they held them as trash to be burned, and that's what I would do if someone gave me a Harry Potter book or some horoscope booklet of the month!

The bible has more advice for the wayward person who now realizes the folly and error of having to do with the occult; "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." (James 4:7 - 8) God wants you close to Him. He loves you. He doesn't want any of us to get involved with things that are wicked and evil and mean us wrong and harm. The work of the occult is the work of the devil, and it is HE that means us harm! Therefore let us not rebel against our blessed Creator, and let us eschew these evil works!

KNOCK! KNOCK!

KNOCK! KNOCK!

In this world of so many different beliefs and religions, I am in awe that so many place their eggs in the wrong basket. Ever watch that game show where there are three doors with two of them having prizes behind them, and one had a dud prize behind it? Well, when it comes to where to place your faith, there are a myriad of doors to choose from instead of 3, and they ALL have a dud prize behind them...except one; Christ is behind the correct door to place your faith. As a matter of fact, Christ Himself said He IS the door!

Some might ask where in the bible He calls Himself a door...  "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."" (John 10:7 - 10) The sheep, of course, are we believers, but who are the thieves and robbers? They are false messiahs and teachers, and Israel knew many then, and the world even now has seen many of all kinds. Even now there are millions of false teachers, many come knocking on your door; they believe even for themselves that all their doorknocking will earn them a place in heaven. Misplaced faith. Dud prize door. Wrong door. John warned us of these people, and also taught us how to know them and thereby avoid them; "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 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." (1 John 4:1 - 3)

Jesus also compared Himself to a gate: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:13 - 20) Jesus is the strait gate, the only way to the Father. All the others here are lumped into one broad dud gate. Wrong gate. Misplaced faith. Yet many are they who place their faith in one of the dud gates. Any wonder why He said the gate was wide to destruction? There are so many dud gates, and so many choose one of them. False teachers are like thorns and thistles, and they are good for naught to Jesus except to be thrown in the fiery furnace!

So if someone comes to you with another way to heaven, and often they have another publication other than the bible, it would be wise not to believe what they have to say. "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 1:10 - 11)

There is only one way to heaven, and that way is the door, the strait gate, and He said of Himself that He was the way; "Jesus saith unto him,

'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.'" (John 14:6 - 7) After Jesus' death, Peter preached this same thing in Jerusalem. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

There is no other god with this special offer, nor with this unspeakable gift, His sacrifice for all who would believe on Him. Our God gave us a door to heaven, a gate with the greatest prize we could ever hope for: salvation in Christ Jesus, our Messiah, our Savior, who loved us so much, as our Father does, too, that He came to earth at the Father's bidding to give us a door to salvation. To heaven. To the Father. The veil between man and God was torn in away forever, that we should have a living way to the Father! "Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;" (Matt. 27:50 - 51)

Now one more time Jesus will refer to a door, but not the door as being Himself, but YOUR door!  And He's knocking! "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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 will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." (Rev. 3:19 - 21) Christ here is appealing to the worldly, compromising believers in the church to come back to Him, open their door, and enjoy fellowship with Him. We must remember that even as we believe on Him, we are still sinners who need to realize our sins as we still make them, confess them, and come to Him as the children of God whom we are, and how exhilarating it will be to actually sit on His throne with Him! So much unconditional love from our wonderful God!  Knock!  Knock!

Christian Fellowship

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

What is Christian fellowship about? Is it just a good title for the name of a church? Is it a nebulous concept that some people don't understand exactly? Is it something anyone can participate in, or are some uninvited? in this study, I would like to make it a little plainer for those who are interested, but not sure. For those who are versed in what it means, the edification will make them smile, I would hope.
"I was glad when they said unto me, 'Let us go into the house of the LORD.'...Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good." (Psa. 122:1, 9) So many believe in Christ Jesus in the world, and those of us who believe in Him, we enjoy each other's company, because we have a Christian love for one another, not as the world loves, but as family in Christ. David's psalm here says that he was happy when he was invited into the house of the Lord. Of course, nobody would "uninvite" king David, but here is given the idea that we can invite fellow believers into the house of God to enjoy worshipping together, giving thanks to God together, and praying for our needs together. When we do these things together, we edify each other with each other's presence and united prayer for the same needs. If we pray for each other's protection from the devil, for example, we edify each other in our speech, because we speak to the Father on each other's behalf, and the love of God is betwixt the three of us, for indeed, God is with us! "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:20)

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." (Psa. 133:1 - 3) To be in the presence of others who treat you like family, whom you can trust your care in, indeed, this is a pleasant moment!
Again I say, that when we are gathered together in Christian love, we are having Christian fellowship, and we are also being obedient to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for it is written that He said; "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:34 - 35) Love to one another includes such things as eating together, even the Lord's supper, and praying together for one another, and acts of compassion, such as rendering services of one kind or another to those feeble and/or in distress in some way. "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers...And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:42, 46 - 47) So here is more ensample of the behavior known as Christian fellowship; they went to each other's houses, and ate meals together, and prayed together, and praised God together.

Part of the fellowship in Christ is the oneness of mind and judgment. While we know there are divisions that are nowadays called denominations, yet even each denomination has oneness in what they believe for doctrine as to their interpretation of the Scriptures. Paul even experienced divisions as early as not even 50 years after Jesus death, in Corinth! "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Cor. 1:9) Right after this verse in the first of his letters to the Corinthians, Paul attacks the matter of divisions in the church there, which goes against the concept of fellowship. If you and I disagree on doctrine, how is that fellowship? Paul points this out to the Corinthians: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, 'I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Cor. 1:10 - 13) There is no love in division, so nor is there fellowship.

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb. 10:24 - 25) The bible has lots of examples of good works. Jesus Himself gave examples often, such as feeding the thousands. Loving good works goes by another name: compassion. When we are thoughtful of the needs of one another, we are demonstrating compassion, because we see what another needs, and we fill it with service to them, which is a demonstration of love and is therefore an example of Christian fellowship in each service we render. Paul also says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves, as the manner of some is, and it is a sad truth that some experience a situation between them and another in the assembly, and they wax cold, so that they do indeed forsake assembling. These people need called back! Visitation is in order to see if reconciliation can be made! If at all possible, bring the sheep back to the fold! I know of someone that left a church for a number of reasons, and it took 5 years for their church to realize they were missing from the pews! By the time their old church finally called them, they were well-vested in a more biblically correct church that knew how to demonstrate Christian fellowship. And there is logical reason to assemble; for how will we know the needs of one another, that we might perform the good works that demonstrate love and fellowship?

"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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." (1 John 1:3 - 7) John wrote the beginning of his first letter here with the theme of fellowship. He gave invitation to all believers to have fellowship with the apostles and ultimately, with the Father and His Son, our Savior, Chirst Jesus. Now when we act with fellowship toward one another, John explains here that our joy may be full because of the experience shared among us, filling the needs of one another. He also explains that we will know who does not have fellowship with us, for they will NOT walk as one in the light, as the rest who believe, but rather will be seen as one who walks in darkness, according to the ways of the world, as the prince of this world would like us all to, but for the glorious knowledge of the gospel that we all are aware of. While we walk in the light, however, we have fellowship not only with one another, but with Christ as well, and His blood keeps us continuously washed from all our sins.

So let us walk as Jesus would have us walk, into assemblage with one another, edifying each other in our faith in Christ, giving the services of good works one to another as He commanded, and thereby loving one another, demonstrating to all men, even the heathen and atheists who rebel and hate the one true God, that we are the disciples of Jesus Christ, because we love not only one another, but Him who commanded us to do so as well, for He said, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15)

Can You Discern The Signs Of The Times?

CAN YOU DISCERN THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES?

Let's break this down into three categories; you see, there are plenty of signs to go around, but we see so much and don't always recognize it with focus in this manner. There are 3 facets to signs of the times: Physical, Social, and Religious.

PHYSICAL

Israel even now is becoming known for fertile farming and husbandry! "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God." (Isa. 35:1 - 2) Another prophecy of Israel's fruitfulness is in Ezekiel; "And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen." (Ezek. 36:30)

Now this sign seems apparent, but has not yet come to pass; nevertheless, when we see it, we shall know it for what it is! "Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, 'Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when My people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against My people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against My land, that the heathen may know Me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.'" (Ezek. 38:14 - 16)

This gate is walled shut, and the prophecy of this gate is also in Ezekiel; "Then He brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the LORD unto me; 'This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.'" (Ezek. 44:1 - 2) If ever this gate is discovered opened, rejoice; for it is a new sign of His appearance!

There is also this prophecy of the tribulation period, where the kings of the north and south will attempt a pincer move against the antiChrist, but they will be defeated. Despite all he has and will do, he will come to his end because of the victorious, returning Christ! "And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him." (Dan. 11:40 - 45)

Knowledge is indeed greatly increasing in this age! 5th graders today are educated at a much greater level than I was at the 5th grade level then! "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (Dan. 12:4) People do indeed move great distances quickly than has ever been possible before, and missionaries for Christ are able to spread the Gospel everywhere in ways unprecedented in times past!

Christ Himself prophesied of the end times; "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." (Matt. 24:7) While it is rather common for at least two nations to be at war at any given time, this should be considered to mean at a greater frequency than normal. There are already famines, but a greater scale of frequency can be expected in those days. The news has been reporting earthquakes more often and in unexpected places recently, and E. coli and Lysteria and other food contaminations have "blossomed" with a creepy frequency, haven't they?

Our omniscient Christ also spoke of the antiChrist to come: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)" (Matt. 24:15) At this point, the antiChrist will get UGLY! Paul also spoke of the antiChrist in this point of tribulation: " Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thess. 2:4)

Right before Christ's coming, Jesus predicted specific physical signs in the heavens and on earth. "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." (Luke 21:25 - 26) Ah, creation's "birth pangs" of the second coming of Christ! And we who believe should rejoice at THESE signs!

While it is a timeless thing that the rich who achieve their treasures do so at their peril, because wealth becomes their god, so it will be in the end times. "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 motheaten. 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." (James 5:1 - 3) With rich treasures also is power. Look at those in power now; do they behave in a godly manner, or are they corrupt and perverse and deceitful and power mad?

Jewish worship during the tribulation time will have a specific temple in those days; "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, 'Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.'" (Rev. 11:1 - 2) These are the physical signs of the end times; shall we see the social signs now?

SOCIAL

Here I want to point out that history is repeating itself. As it was in the days of Noah, so it is fast becoming today; "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Gen. 6:5) As it was then, so it is now. Before God flooded the earth, man's wickedness was great; isn't it so now?   U.S. Congressman Barney Frank announced on 2.2.12 that he will be marrying his boyfriend - abominable!  "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly." (Gen. 13:13) "But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, 'Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.'" (Gen. 19:4 - 5) How many Sodom and Gomorrahs do you recognize in the world today? I don't know about other countries, but here in the U.S. abortion is so great, it makes the Jewish holocaust pale in comparison, fornicators line up at clinics nationwide to have doctors murder their unborn conceptions, and the wicked lie in mothers' ears that there is no sin in choosing to have removed the unwanted "blob" in their wombs. And this is only one facet of man's wickedness! Pride, greed, selfishness, and much more are rampant in so many countries!

I next want to address a prophecy that happened long ago for us who live today, but it should be a proof to skeptics that the bible is true and ALL the prophecies should be heeded! It was prophesied before it happened, that the Jewish people should be scattered among the nations, and so it is today... "And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: In the morning thou shalt say, 'Would God it were even!' And at even thou shalt say, 'Would God it were morning!' For the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see." (Deut. 28:63 - 67)

Ah, but these people of Israel He promised not to leave scattered forever, but they shall return from being scattered everywhere, and it is in progress TODAY! "For thus saith the Lord GOD; 'Behold, I, even I, will both search My sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.'" (Ezek. 34:11 - 13) "For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land." (Ezek. 36:24)

The end times for Jerusalem also have prophecy in that her enemies will find she cannot be moved. "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 'In that day', saith the LORD, 'I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open Mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.'" (Zech. 12:2 - 4)

Jesus, too, spoke of the social attitudes of the end days: "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...Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another...And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold...But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Matt. 24:6, 9 - 10, 12, 37 - 39) I want to make note that Jesus referred to the wicked in the days of Noe (Noah), and so therein lies my logic to refer to the Genesis condition of men not only in Noah's day, but also the condition of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Luke also noted Jesus' speech about the last days; "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. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife." (Luke 17:28 - 32) In this you see why I earlier noted Sodom and Gomorrah's condition. "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 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;...And He spake to them a parable; 'Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.'" (Luke 21:24 - 25, 29 - 33) So we shall know Jesus' 2nd coming is upon us!

In his last letter to Timothy, Paul seems to certainly paint the picture of men's souls who live today! It is as if he were listening to the godly of today speak of the ungodly and their behavior in magazines, on T.V., in radio, and in person! "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, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1 - 5) By Paul's description, hello! we're there!

Oh, how John also paints the way men are today! And the last verse reminds me of the abortion mongers! "And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, 'Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.' And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (Rev. 9:13 - 21)

The lake of fire is also prophesied for those who are unbelieving of Jesus and stand before the great white throne. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Rev. 21:8) Jesus Himself speaks more through John's book of Revelation for unbelievers; "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." (Rev. 22:15) Lastly are the religious signs of the times in the last days...

RELIGIOUS

Daniel speaks on the antiChrist in his 11th chapter, and the religious merges with the physical signs of the end times; "And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him." (Dan. 11:36 - 45) The antiChrist's future career is herein given, how he shall be identified because of his behavior prophesied. The antiChrist will have no respect for religion or religious heritages. The antiChrist will be cruel, inhumane, and worship military might and the thrill of destruction.

Joel also speaks on the end days, when God's Spirit will be poured out on His people! "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit." (Joel 2:28 - 29) This is to happen before the great and terrible day of the Lord to come!

Jesus predicted many false christs, and indeed, many have come. Some as famous as the leader of the "Moonies", some got so little fanfare, they went unnoticed. "For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matt. 24:5) Yes, many deceivers of all sorts are in the world, yesterday and today; some false prophets lead an entire denomination! "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." (Matt. 24:11)

Missionaries are gone out into all the world today, and whom has not yet been witnessed to? "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:13 - 14)

Jesus also asserts that not one prophecy will be unfulfilled! "Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Matt. 24:34)

Paul reveals some pretty specific things to the Thessalonians in his 2nd letter regarding the last days; of the antiChrist sitting in the rebuilt temple, and the day of the Lord will come to pass after the revelation of the antiChrist. And that the Lord, when He comes, will destroy the antiChrist! "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:" (2 Thess. 2:4 - 8)

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul tells of the end days when so many will go astray to heretical denominations and churches of many kinds. False teachers and even false bibles exist today! One of the sure signs of a false church is the requirement of another book to go along with the bible, and some have even published their own altered version of the word of God! "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (1 Tim. 4:1 - 5)

Paul wrote in his 2nd letter to Timothy a little of the same, so it was very important to note that false teaching was going to be the rage in end days! "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:3 - 4)

Peter also warned of false teachers in the last days, and even a little of what they would preach! "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." (2 Pet. 2:1 - 2)

Peter also foretold the attitudes of the unbelievers in the end days; "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." (2 Pet. 3:3 - 4)

We will indeed be distinct from the world; even now we see the sheep and goats taking distinct sides, polarizing from gray to black and white! "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." (1 John 5:19)

The last religious sign of the times I want to cover is in Revelation. "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 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. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." (Rev. 13:1 - 18) There are many stories already of verichips made to be surgically implanted under the skin of the hand or forehead for scanning personal information for buying and selling on account.   The antiChrist and beast will do this as a perversion of Deut. 6:8 - "And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.",  Can you read the signs of the times?

Man's 4 Spiritual Hopes

MAN'S FOUR SPIRITUAL HOPES

Mankind has four spiritual hopes in God in which we all look to Him, because we cannot achieve any of the four without His power, grace, and charity, which is love. Because man has been sinful since the day of Adam and Eve, Our first spiritual hope is salvation, which we know is achieved in Christ Jesus.

1. Salvation. "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." (1 Thess. 5:8) "For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke." (Isa. 59:17) Here is prophecy that Jesus will bring salvation to Israel, but we also know it has been offered even to the Gentiles! "And he said, 'It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.'" (Isa. 49:6) "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" (Eph. 6:17) The helmet guards our minds and thoughts. If we keep in remembrance our salvation is already won and victory is ours for Christ's shed blood on the cross, we steel our minds from the devil's temptations to worry about our salvation, because we hold the gospel to be true, and it asserts our salvation is guaranteed in Jesus' propitiation for all our sins through His sacrifice. Let the devil rail and accuse us, Jesus is our "lawyer", who will counter his accusations with one answer; "Debt paid!"

2. Resurrection. On this one point the Pharisees were correct, they simply didn't recognize their spiritual hope when He was in front of them! "But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, 'Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.' And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both." (Acts 23:6 - 8) The Sadducees were very lost, since they had no hope in a resurrection to begin with, but all who believe in Jesus find this spiritual hope of theirs rests in Him! Jesus even attested to the Sadducees that there is a resurrection, but since they didn't believe in Him, how could it have been expected for them to believe what He was teaching? "But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?' God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Matt. 22:31 - 32) So as all believers are convinced that Jesus cannot lie, we are confident in the hope in Christ Jesus not only for salvation, but in this resurrection that He guaranteed will take place! "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 11:25)

3. The Second Coming Of Christ. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour 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." (Tit. 2:13 - 14) Our hope and belief is the same, those of us who believe on Him, that He will not only come again to redeem us, but that He will also reward us for our faith! "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." (Col. 3:4) Ah, the rapture in the air; what a spectacular moment that will be! "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." (1 John 3:2) Wow, to be physically and spiritually changed into bodies like His! How much we should be joyous to look forward to such a metamorphosis! "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom;... Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." (2 Tim. 4:1, 8) Those of us who know about how things will be when He comes again indeed long for His appearing, for we will be free of the things of this world!

4. Eternal Life. "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" (Tit. 1:2) While there are people who believe we die and then there's absolutely nothing left of our essence, those of us who believe there is an eternal life in bliss and heaven also believe we shall receive it from Christ. Our hope is in Him, and this faith is guaranteed because as it is herein written, God cannot lie! "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus," (2 Tim. 1:1) "That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Tit. 3:7)

And so we have these four spiritual hopes that our Father Creator who with His loving hands formed us in our mothers' wombs, has a plan that demonstrates His love for us throughout all eternity; we hope in the salvation promised because of our belief in Christ Jesus, His Son. We have hope to be resurrected because of our faith in He who was resurrected by our heavenly Father, who is promised to resurrect those who believe on Him. We have a hope in the return of this same Savior who was resurrected, that when He comes, we will see Him and be with Him in all His glory, and we have a hope in the promise of eternal life in paradise, in the New Jerusalem, and its eternal light, which is from our God; eternal life with Christ Jesus!  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jer 29:11) God never changes!