INTERESTING INFORMATION CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
CONFIRMING BIBLICAL TRUTH
SECTION II - SPECIAL ARTICLES/ BOOK REVIEWS
IN THIS SECTION:
· WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE DIE? (WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS)
· WHAT’S IN A NAME?
· "BOB PIERCE - THIS ONE THING I DO" - A BOOKREVIEW/SUMMARY
· "THE HIDDEN CODES OF THE BIBLE" - A BOOK REVIEW/SUMMARY
· "SIGNS OF THE TIME” - A BOOK REVIEW/SUMMARY
INTERESTING INFORMATION 4/1/2026
Est. 1997
The following material is provided for information purposes only. Any conclusions or opinions formed should be based on the principles as outlined in Acts 17:11. The material is intended for use as a witnessing tool and to keep you informed so you will not be unaware (Luke 21:34) of what is happening according to Scripture’s
DE
“However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b)
Ezekiel 34:2 “Shepherd, feed the Flock
"The Triumphal Entry of a Humble Servant"
Pastor Len McLaughlin, Heritage Church, McKinney, Tx
This is a wonderful Message. Don’t miss it, you will be blessed!
Pass it on to your Homebound Family and friends
CHRISTIAN MUSIC VIDEO
"THE JOURNEY TO THE CROSS, The Day Love Was Crucified”
CELINE DION
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – “If you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.” – OUR DAILY BREAD
SUMMARY OF ARTICLES
· Is God sleeping in your boat?
· If you see Jesus when He returns, you’ve missed the Rapture
INTERESTING ARTICLES
IS GOD SLEEPING IN YOUR BOAT?
The Christian Post – Mar. 27, 2026 -- There is a remarkable moment in the Gospels when Jesus and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee. A violent storm arose, waves crashed over the boat, and seasoned fishermen feared they were about to perish. Meanwhile, Jesus was asleep in the stern. In desperation, the disciples woke Him, crying, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
The Gospel of Mark records what happened next:“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39).
The sudden stillness was astonishing. Only moments earlier the disciples believed they were facing death. Now the sea lay quiet as glass. But what truly shook them was not merely the miracle itself; it was what the miracle revealed.
They asked one another in awe:
“What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41).
To modern readers, the question may seem like simple amazement. But to a Jewish audience steeped in the Old Testament Scriptures, it carried profound theological weight. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the power to command the sea belongs to God alone.
Consider the language of the Psalms. In Psalm 89:9 the psalmist declares, “Thou rulest the raging of the sea.” Psalm 107:29 says of the Lord, “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” Even in Job 38:11, God Himself speaks to the sea, saying, “Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further.”
Throughout the Old Testament, the sea often represents untamable power and chaos. Yet Scripture consistently teaches that only the Lord is sovereign over it.
This truth becomes especially vivid in Psalm 114.
Psalm 114 celebrates the great acts of God during the Exodus, when the Lord delivered Israel from Egypt and established them as His covenant people. The psalmist recounts those events in striking poetic imagery:
“The sea saw it and fled: Jordan was driven back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs” (Psalm 114:3–4).
Here the Red Sea is described as fleeing (parting) before the Lord when Israel escaped the army of Pharaoh. The Jordan River is said to have turned back when Israel, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, entered the Promised Land under Joshua. Even the mountains appear to leap like frightened animals in the presence of God.
The psalmist then explains the reason for these extraordinary events:
“Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob” (Psalm 114:7).
The message is unmistakable: when the Creator Himself is present among His people, creation responds.
The
sea flees.
The rivers stop.
The mountains tremble.
A storm is raging. The wind howls. Waves crash into the small fishing boat. Yet when Jesus stands and simply speaks, “Peace, be still,”the wind stops, and the sea immediately becomes calm.
This moment echoes the very truth proclaimed in Psalm 114. Nature responds instantly to the presence of its Creator.
The disciples sensed this, even if they did not yet fully understand it. Their question — “What manner of man is this?”— reveals their growing realization that they were witnessing something far greater than a miracle. They were seeing the authority of God Himself demonstrated in the person of Jesus.
The New Testament later states this truth clearly. The Gospel of John declares: “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
The one who calmed the sea is the same Lord who once parted the Red Sea, halted the Jordan River, and caused mountains to tremble.
The Creator had stepped into His own creation.
For those who trust their lives and circumstances to Christ, this truth carries a deeply encouraging message.
When the storm struck the Sea of Galilee, the disciples feared they were about to die. Yet their safety did not depend on the strength of their boat or the skill of their rowing. Their safety depended on who was with them in the boat.
The Lord of creation was with them in that little boat.
Psalm 114 reminds us that seas flee, and rivers turn back at the presence of the Lord. The Gospel accounts reveal that this same authority belongs to Jesus Christ.
That means the one who commands the wind and the waves is also the one who walks with His people through every storm of life.
The circumstances around us may sometimes appear overwhelming. Winds may rage, an waves may threaten to sink the vessel. But the believer can take heart in this unchanging truth: The one who calmed the sea is still present with His people today.
When the Creator is in the boat, no storm has the final word.
Is He in your boat?
IF YOU SEE JESUS WHEN HE RETURNS, YOU MISSED THE RAPTURE
Chrisma News – Mar. 27, 2026 -- There’s a statement from Amir Tsarfati that immediately reframes how many believers think about the return of Jesus: “If you are face to face with Jesus at his Second Coming, you have missed the rapture.”
That idea challenges a common assumption in the Church and gets to the root of a deeper issue. Many Christians have merged two distinct biblical events into one, creating confusion about what Scripture actually lays out.
Tsarfati, founder of Behold Israel, addresses that confusion directly. “There’s a critical distinction most churches are missing,” he said, pointing back to the biblical foundation that “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Cor. 14:33).
Two Events, Not One
At the center of his message is a clear distinction between the Rapture and the Second Coming. These are not different descriptions of the same moment. They are separate events with different purposes.
“The Bible clearly teaches two distinct events. The rapture and the Second Coming,” Tsarfati said.
Rapture vs. Second Coming Explained
The Rapture:
“The Lord himself will descend from heaven… and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up… to meet the Lord… in the air,” Tsarfati said. “We meet him in the air, not on earth” (1 Thess. 4:16–17).
The Second Coming:
“In the Second Coming, believers will be behind Jesus, following him on white horses. We’ll see his back, not his face,” he said (Rev. 19:14; Zech. 14:5).
Why This Matters Right Now
Tsarfati connects this teaching to the moment the world is in right now. “Our present days are like the days of Noah, when everyone did whatever they wanted,” he said (Matt. 24:37–39).
That comparison is not abstract. It frames how believers understand what comes next. Just as Noah was lifted above the flood, the Church will be taken before judgment is poured out.
The timeline matters. The Rapture is imminent. The Second Coming follows a sequence of events that Scripture lays out in detail, including the rise of the Antichrist and a seven-year Tribulation (Dan. 9:27; 2 Thess. 2:4).
What Many Churches Are Getting Wrong
One of the clearest corrections Tsarfati makes is about what believers are actually preparing for.
“I heard a pastor tell his congregation, ‘We must get ready for the Second Coming of Jesus.’ It sounds spiritual, but is that really what believers should be preparing for?”
Jesus’ own words point in a different direction. He spoke of preparing a place for His people and returning to receive them, not instructing the Church to prepare the world for His arrival (John 14:2–3).
What Happens If You Miss It
Tsarfati returns to the central warning that frames the message. If someone is on Earth watching Jesus return in power, they were not part of the Rapture.
“If you’re facing Jesus at his Second Coming, it means you weren’t raptured,” he said. “You don’t want to be in that position.”
One event is rescue. The other is judgment. Scripture draws that line clearly, with believers not appointed to wrath but to salvation (1 Thess. 5:9).
Living With Expectation
This is not meant to create confusion or fear, but clarity. The New Testament consistently points believers toward expectancy.
“This should be our attitude, too,” Tsarfati said, pointing to Paul’s language of living as if Christ could return at any moment (Rom. 13:11–12).
Jesus is coming first for His Church, then later with His Church. That truth is not just theological detail. It shapes how we live, how we watch and how we stay ready for His appearing, our blessed hope (Titus 2:13).
PRIOR ISSUE
INTERESTING INFORMATION 3/25/2026
Est. 1997
The following material is provided for information purposes only. Any conclusions or opinions formed should be based on the principles as outlined in Acts 17:11. The material is intended for use as a witnessing tool and to keep you informed so you will not be unaware (Luke 21:34) of what is happening according to Scripture’s
DE
“However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b)
Ezekiel 34:2 “Shepherd, feed the Flock
"Not A Spirit of Fear"
https://www.heritagechurchmckinney.com/messages/Not%20A%20Spirit%20of%20Fear.mp3
Pastor Len McLaughlin, Heritage Church, McKinney, Tx
This is a wonderful Message. Don’t miss it, you will be blessed!
Pass it on to your Homebound Family and friends
CHRISTIAN MUSIC VIDEO
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – “A Word of Encouragement: "Don't be afraid of death because I Am the Resurrection." John 11:25
SUMMARY OF ARTICLES
· We will all be resurrected, but will we be with Jesus?
· This Easter, please don’t forget about the Cross
· The Resurrection reminds us why Christian Service should be different
· THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
INTERESTING ARTICLES
WE WILL ALL BE RESURRECTED. BUT WILL WE BE WITH JESUS?
Koenig’s Int’l News – Do you really believe Jesus rose from the dead? This might sound like a trick question, but it's actually a chance for deep reflection. For Christians, the entirety of our belief system hinges on a miraculous event that happened over 2,000 years ago.
When Jesus rose from the dead after His crucifixion, He didn't just come back to life; He redefined life itself. He proved He is the Son of God and offered resurrection life for those who turn to Him in repentance and faith.
I’ll never forget the moment I repented and turned to Jesus in faith. It was April 12th, 1984, at five o’clock in the morning. I had been up all night, and I finally said, “I’m done. I’m going to give God the commitment I’ve given football and the commitment I’ve given drugs. I’m going to live for Jesus.” That moment changed my life forever — all because I received resurrection life!
Resurrection life isn't a reward we strive towards through religion or works; all religions fall short of bridging the gap to God. That's exactly why God sent His perfect Son to make the ultimate sacrifice for us.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 shares this truth: “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the Gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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.”
The reality of the resurrection underpins our faith. It’s the rock-solid foundation that gives us confidence as we share the Gospel with friends, enemies, and everyone in between. When we truly believe in resurrection, it should resonate throughout our lives, setting us apart.
As we approach Easter, here are a few important points about the resurrection to consider.
1. The Bible means nothing if Christ didn’t rise from the dead
If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then the whole of Scripture loses its integrity and transformative power. This isn't a mere theological assertion; it's foundational to understanding the Christian message.
Before Jesus' resurrection, others had been brought back to life, but these were temporary restorations. They returned to their mortal existence only to face death again. Jesus' resurrection, however, was fundamentally different. It was a transformation into a new life, signifying the defeat of death itself and the promise of eternal life for believers. This event shifted the narrative from death being the end to death being the beginning! Death is not final for those who have resurrection life.
2. Some will be raised from the dead to a born-again life
The concept of resurrection is not merely about coming back to life. It's about being born into a new life altogether. For those who accept Christ, this isn't a future event but a current reality. Being “born again” signifies a profound transformation where the Holy Spirit takes residence within, and believers are spiritually seated with Christ in heavenly places. This is not a figurative expression but a positional truth that affects how believers view life, death, and their purpose on earth.
Colossians 3:1 underscores this transformative perspective: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.” This verse calls believers to align their lives with their spiritual position, encouraging them to focus on eternal values and God's ongoing work in the world. Don’t keep your eyes down on the troubles of this life. Look up and around at what God is doing! If you’ve been raised and born again, this is your reminder to set your mind on things above.
3. Some will be resurrected to life
The New Testament teaches that not all humanity will share the same destiny. Believers in Christ are promised a resurrection to eternal life, where they will receive new, glorified bodies free from the corruption of sin. This promise is not a mere hope but a guaranteed future for those who have placed their faith in Jesus. As Jesus Himself says in John 5:28-29, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
This distinction highlights a critical aspect of Christian doctrine — the resurrection to life is reserved for those who have trusted in Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, while a resurrection to judgment awaits those who reject God's offer of salvation.
Back to life
All of us are going to come back to life. The question is, what kind of life are we going to come back to?
Without Christ's resurrection, our faith and preaching are empty. But because He lives, we serve a living Savior eager for a relationship with us, offering guidance, encouragement, and hope.
The resurrection makes us confident that one day — after Jesus returns — we will be given new, spiritual bodies. What will those bodies be like? I’m not sure! But I do know that Jesus walked through walls with His resurrected body, so that is interesting to consider!
As we ponder the magnitude of Jesus' resurrection, consider its impact on your life. So, I’ll ask again. Do you really believe that Jesus really rose from the dead? Because if you believe it, your life should be marked by this reality.
THIS EASTER, PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CROSS
"God forbid that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world" (Gal. 6:14).
Charisma News –Why is the world offended by the cross? Why are so many disturbed when the name of Jesus is mentioned? Why is His name, above all others, often taken in vain?
Why do some proclaiming to be "Christians" say, "The cross is the symbol of the dying Christ, so we don't use it"?
The answer is simple: There is power in His name, and there is power in the cross—power that shakes the spiritual realm. Philippians 2:9-11 says that God has highly exalted Jesus and has given Him a name that is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
No wonder the world hates the cross and the name of Jesus—they convict. The cross, sin and repentance have never been popular terms even though they are at the heart of the Christian faith. Jesus Himself said that the cross would be offensive. Sadly, many today water down the gospel and avoid talking about the cross. They want the Bible to be more appealing and marketable. But truth is not marketable! We are to guard it, proclaim it and defend it, but never compromise it..
A.W. Tozer addressed this decades ago: "There has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles. It is like the old cross, but different; the likenesses are superficial, the differences fundamental. The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it. The old cross brought tears and blood; the new cross brings laughter."
Tozer continues, "Any objection to the carrying on of our present gold-calf [lukewarm] Christianity is met with the triumphant reply, 'But we are winning them!' And winning them to what? To true discipleship? To cross-carrying? To self-denial? To separation from the world? To crucifixion of the flesh? To holy living? To nobility of character? To a despising of the world's treasures? To hard self-discipline? To love for God? To total committal to Christ? Of course, the answer to all these questions is...No."
This pleasant, "new cross" view often leaves people confused and deceived because they believe in a self-promoting, self-seeking Christianity that bears no resemblance to Jesus' sobering call to full surrender—to dying to self. For this reason, it's been said that one of the greatest mission fields in the world today is the church, as a whole, in America.
In our zeal to lead people to Christ, many paint a false picture of discipleship, or water it down altogether. Jesus didn't say, "Follow me and you won't have to change anything." He said, "If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24). Jesus wants us to understand what's involved when we follow Him—there is a cost. The cross cost Him and it will cost us.
If current statistics hold true, many will continue to embrace a glamorized Christianity and be led astray. Life is a battleground, not a playground!
If you've never sincerely repented and trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, there is no better time than now. Many who are trapped in religion go through life lacking passion, direction and purpose, often living with a sense of remorse and guilt. They wonder, Have I been good enough? A relationship with Christ changes that. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, "Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new." Your past is forgiven, your present secure and your future certain.
The Resurrection and the cross set us free from sin and death: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).
No matter what you've done, you have the opportunity to believe in Jesus and be forgiven of sin. Acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior (Rom. 3:23). Acknowledge that Jesus died for your sins (John 3:16). Repent and turn from your sins (Acts 3:19). Live your life for Him (Heb. 12:1-2).
THE RESURRECTION REMINDS US WHY CHRISTIAN SERVICE SHOULD BE DIFFERENT
The Christian Post -- Most Christians agree that if we’re going to take Jesus’ words seriously, our lives should reflect the fruit of Jesus’ work in us. And here’s some good news — that is often the case today.
Compelled by the spirit of the resurrected Savior, countless ordinary Christians here in the United States and around the world are out looking for ways to bring healing where there is hurt in the name of Jesus. It’s why we see so many believers say yes to meeting dire needs, like plucking a vulnerable child out of an orphanage in China or fostering a teen from a group home in Chicago.
Motivated by love, Christians often embrace the hard but important work that’s out there.
As we turn our attention toward Easter this month, we ought to be reminded that, for many Christ-followers, choosing this kind of service is our unflinching first response because that’s exactly what our Lord and Savior did for us. And each day, He’s making us more like Him.
A recent study confirms what we have seen across decades of work connecting vulnerable children with stable families: Christians who are active in their faith are significantly more likely to adopt or consider adopting than the general population in America.
Some skeptics might assume that Christians adopt out of obligation, but from experience we can attest that’s simply not the case. Rather, we have a hope that drives us toward what others may see as hopeless situations. We know that we’ll soon live in a world with no more orphans, no more disease, no more hunger, and no more sorrow because of what Jesus accomplished, but until then, we have a responsibility as believers to stand in the gap of that brokenness today. On the first Easter Sunday many years ago, Jesus made a way for us to do just that. He gave us that hope.
When we respond in service to the suffering we see around us as Jesus did, we are holding out hope to a world that’s desperate to receive it.
In addition to hope, we also have a perfect example in Christ to look to as we serve. Philippians 2 shares that Jesus came to earth and emptied Himself, taking the very nature of a servant. Though He had every right to be worshiped, He presented Himself to humankind as a living sacrifice. This demonstration of love is why we go to the hurting, the broken, the unkept corridors of humanity where no one else is standing in line to serve.
A few weeks ago, I was talking to a couple who have served as foster parents for the last 15 years. They have adult children who are grown and out of the house, and they feel called at this stage of life to serve the Lord by loving these children. They admitted that when the babies leave their home to be reunited with their biological parents or move into a more permanent situation, they’re broken-hearted. It’s hard. Really hard. They love each child as if she will never leave, knowing for certain that one day she will leave.
Why do they willingly seek out this kind of pain? It’s because that’s what they saw Jesus do. The hope He provides and the example He sets compels them to serve others in the same way. And only He can comfort them in the deepest parts of their souls, because He knows.
This type of service can feel overwhelming. How do we meet all the needs that exist for vulnerable children here and around the globe? Easter reminds us once again — as ambassadors for Christ, we are all called to share the Gospel and serve others in some capacity. We each have a part to play, and those individual acts of service can add up to monumental change.
Not every Christian will foster or adopt, but everyone can come alongside and help stabilize those who have said yes to this important work. If we’re tutoring a child in foster care or offering a respite evening to worn-out parents, we’re honoring our resurrected Savior well.
So, this Easter, let’s choose service. May all Christ-followers find opportunities, through Lifeline or in another capacity, to demonstrate Jesus’s love by actively serving those around us with fresh vigor, renewed care and radical compassion.
It’s the life Jesus has called us to lead, and we can all live it out.
THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
God doesn't expect us to figure life out on our own; He equips and guides those He has called.
God has a plan for every believer’s life, and He’s provided talents, abilities, and circumstances to fit with these individualized goals (Eph. 2:10). But God’s purposes for us can be fulfilled only as we depend on the Holy Spirit. Too often we try to tackle life by ourselves. For a while, we may succeed, but in the long run, self-reliance fails.
We cannot accomplish God’s plan our way and in our own power. It simply won’t work. In fact, being adequate in ourselves actually hinders us from doing what the Lord desires and stifles our spiritual growth. If we persist in arrogant self-reliance, we may have to experience failure, so we’ll realize how weak we truly are. God lovingly breaks our pride by showing us that we’re inadequate without Him. Only by His strength and direction are we able to succeed.
Have you surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s control by acknowledging your weakness and recognizing His power, omniscience, and wisdom? The Lord doesn’t call you to live the Christian life in your own strength, which is a human impossibility. Rather, He wants you to yield control and let Him live His life through you.
In Touch Ministry
SECTION II - SPECIAL ARTICLES/ BOOK REVIEWS
IN THIS SECTION:
· WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE DIE? (WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS)
· WHAT’S IN A NAME?
· "BOB PIERCE - THIS ONE THING I DO" - A BOOKREVIEW/SUMMARY
· "THE HIDDEN CODES OF THE BIBLE" - A BOOK REVIEW/SUMMARY
· "SIGNS OF THE TIME” - A BOOK REVIEW/SUMMARY
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE DIE?
By D.E. Davis
For Christians, we are told in Scripture in 2Cr 5:8 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. For those who turn away from God, we are told that they are eternally separated from God and go to a place called Hell. Rev 14:11 says that the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever.
The question that everyone ponders is: What really happens after we die? Do we just lay dormant until the Lord takes us to be with him or until judgement is handed out at the Great White Throne as called out in Rev. 20:11? Are we conscience? Do we feel, touch, think, recognize loved ones, know what is happening around us? All questions that we have ask ourselves, no doubt, at some time in our life.
My own personal review of the Scriptures has led me to believe that after we die, even though our body may be dead and buried, our Spirit is alive and fully conscience. Chuck Missler likens this state of conscienceness to the software that runs the Computer; once the hardware goes, the software remains intact and available for further applications.
There are two illustrations in the Bible that makes it clear as to what happens after death, when we're in the spirit.
The first one is illustrated in the Luke account of Lazarus and the rich man in Chapter 16. After death, Lazarus, a man of God, is escorted into Abraham’s Bosom, a holding compartment in Hell for the Believers prior to the Cross. The non-believing rich man was "buried" and went into a separate compartment in Hell (Hades), apart from Abraham’s Bosom, where he was in Torment according to Scripture. Both were in a Spirit state; yet by the account, they could see each other and speak to each other.
The second account is in Revelation, where John is taken (in the Spirit) to Heaven to see those things that shall come to pass prior to the return of Jesus Christ to the Earth, or Second Coming (not the Rapture).
I had to conclude from the study, based on the following Scripture, that all of the senses we have here on earth will be with us throughout eternity, even unto death.
· THE ABILITY TO LOOK/SEE - Luke 16:23;Rev. 1:12;4:1,4; 5:1,2; 6:1,2,8,9; 7:1,2; 8:2; 9:1,17; 10:1,5; 13:1,2,3;14:1,6; 15:1,2; 16:13; 17:3,6; 18:1; 19:11,17,19; 20:1,4,11,12; 21:1,2,22; 22:8
· THE ABILITY TO HEAR - Rev. 1:10; 4:1; 5:11; 6:1,3,5,6,7; 7:4; 9:13,16; 10:4,8; 12:10; 14:2,13; 16:1,5,7; 18:4; 19:1,6; 21: 3; 22:8
· THE ABILITY TO BEHOLD ( to obtain knowledge of: understand: perceive) - Rev. 5:6,11; 6:5,8,12; 7:9; 8:13; 13:11
· THE ABILITY TO REASON - Luke 16:30
· THE ABILITY TO CRY (even though there will be no more crying in Heaven) - Rev. 5:4,5; Luke 16:24
· THE ABILITY TO SPEAK - Rev. 5:13; 10:9; 21:6,15; Luke 16:24, 29,30,31
· THE ABILITY TO FEEL/TOUCH - Luke 16:23, 24,25
· THE ABILITY TO REMEMBER - Luke 16:25
· THE ABILITY TO WONDER - Rev. 17:6
· THE ABILITY TO WRITE - Rev. 1:11; 10:4; 19:9
· THE ABILITY TO QUESTION - Rev. 7:13
· THE ABILITY TO TAKE (THE BOOK/ROD) - Rev. 10:8,9,10
· THE ABILITY TO FALL (ON KNEES) - Rev. 19:10; 22:8
· THE ABILITY TO STAND - Rev. 13:1
· THE ABILITY TO WORSHIP - Rev. 19:10; 22:8
· THE ABILITY TO PERFORM TASKS - Rev. 11:1
God has promised in 1 Thess 4:16 and 1 Cor. 15:52,53 that one day, we shall be reunited with Him in body and will be transformed and conformed to Him - in the twinkling of an eye. We are also told in Scripture that we shall see Him face to face- see the Lamb that was slain for you and me. We know by His Word, that we will Praise Him, Worship Him and Rule with Him.
One thing in the study that I found extremely fascinating was the difference in treatment between Lazarus and the non-believing rich man. Scripture says that Lazarus was escorted to Heaven by an Angel, but there is no indication in Scripture about how the rich man arrived at Hell. Could it be that God had a specific purpose why He chose not to tell us in Scripture?
Finally, knowing that others may have varying interpretations of these Scriptures, I strongly urge you to review the Scriptures yourselves to determine what you find as the truth according to God’s Word.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
For those who wish you had some other name because you don't like the name you were given, you had better think twice. It is most likely that the name your parents picked out for you was not their choice but God's choice. Let’ s face it, the word of the Lord is true. That's why in Eph. 1:4, God proclaimed that He had chosen us from before the very beginning of the world.
If you follow the Genealogy of Adam in Genesis, Chapter 5 (*) you will receive an insight into what importance God put in names - It's an exciting message:
Genealogy Meaning
Adam Man
Seth Appointed
Enosh Mortal
Kenan Sorrow
Mahalalel The blessed God
Jared Shall come down
Enoch Teaching
Methuselah His Death shall bring
Lamech The Despairing
Noah Rest, Comfort
Now let us look at God’s Plan for Redemption:
"Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow; (but) the Blessed God shall come down teaching (that) His death shall bring (the) despairing rest."
Let us now look at the Genealogy of Abraham (*):
Genealogy Meaning
Abraham Predestination
Isaac Called
Jacob Justified
Joseph Glorified
(*) Source: Chuck Missler’s Briefing package: “A Walk Thru the Bible”
WELL YOU SAY! BUT THAT WAS ALL OLD TESTAMENT AND WOULDN'T BE APPLICABLE FOR TODAY - WOULD IT?
Well, let us see.................. As a Christian, did God not choose you by name at the same time he chose Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph - before the very foundation of the world? If God had a purpose for their name, would you expect anything less for your name since He chose you at the same time?
As a Christian, You ought to thank God daily that you, by your given name, was written in the Lamb's book of life before the very foundation of the world and that you will be a partaker in all the promises of Rev 21:27.
Within the last couple of years, researchers have found many startling discoveries through the use of super computers, specifically, hidden codes that God supernaturally placed within the Hebrew text of the Bible. Over 2000 years ago, the names of historical and current leader’s names were placed in the Bible. Such names as Adolph Hitler, Eichmann, Arafat, Peres, Rabin, Rabin's murderer Amir, Ben-Zion Netanyahu, Saddan Hussein, George Bush, Schwarzkoph, Peter Arnet (CNN), Timithy McVeigh, Bill Clinton.
Do you think that God would limit His calling out to just those who had a highly visible historical impact on this world? There is no doubt that He had a purpose in doing this, if nothing else, just to get your attention that He is the Creator; that He alone knows the beginning from the end.
It is my firm belief that as we advance further with our computer technology and peel back the layers of the Hebrew text of the scriptures, we will make many more startling and exciting discoveries. One being that God has written each and every one of our names in His Word.
HERE IS WHAT GOD SAID: Isaiah 66:22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain."
BOOK REVIEW by D. E. Davis (September 1997)
BOB PIERCE -"THIS ONE THING I DO"
By Franklin Graham with Jeanette Lockerbie
It is amazing the worlds that open up to an individual, once the Power of the Holy Spirit comes upon him. Just three years ago, where once I was blind to Missions, to all the inspired men and women God has called to service and the multitude of people all over the world who have been saved, new worlds are ever opening to me to see how awesome the power of God is in our Christian lives.
Such was the power and strength of faith Bob Pierce had in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is difficult for me to even attempt to assess where God has put Bob along with other past great men of the faith, but from what I read about his life with Christ, he certainly had his eyes focused on Jesus! I personally feel inadequate and humbled to even put in words, my thoughts about this man. Bob was a man Blessed by God. I feel sad that I never had an opportunity to know him, but look forward to meeting him one day in heaven.
If ever there was a verse of scripture that represented Bob Pierce, it had to be the title of this book as taken from Philippians 3:13,14 ".......this one thing I do,....I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ."
Bob was raised in Los Angeles and at the age of 12, gave his life to Christ and was baptized in the Nazarene Church. "God simply called me to give my heart to Jesus, and I followed Him." He died in 1978 of leukemia but lived his life for Christ in between in between those dates as if Christ was coming tomorrow and he still had to witness to the whole world before dawn broke. Throughout his career, he dedicated his life mainly to Missions and over the years was responsible for founding such World re-noun programs as "World Vision", an organization dedicated to meeting the emergency needs in crisis areas such as Korea after the Korean war. During that time of need, he established a Korean Orphanage, serving over 30 thousand Korean war orphans. Bob was also responsible for starting the World re-noun Korean Orphan's Choir. As an outgrowth of "World Vision" he founded "World Medical Mission" which covered all emergency medical needs in countries all over the world which had no medical facilities. He was also founder of "Samaritan's Purse" and organization dedicated to funding World emergency need, no matter where they were. These organizations are still meeting the needs of those in crisis today.
If his work through these organizations was not enough, he became a United Nations War Correspondent during World War II; was Co-founder for "Youth for Christ"; and became a Motion Picture producer/Radio program host, author and a lecturer, but first and last, he always considered himself an evangelist! Even though Bob knew that he was "extraordinarily gifted by God, he was never impressed with himself - he considered himself just an earthly vessel, available at all times for the exclusive use of the Lord".
In his own words, he had "many flaws, failings but had abundant faith in God who lives and cares about people."
If I had to pick four areas of the Christian life that I feel truly represented Bob Pierce, they would be 1) Unwavering Faith, 2) Compassion for others, 3) Obedience to God and 4) Commitment to accomplish the Will of God in his life.
From the Beginning, Bob knew his calling was for Missions to the Asian Countries. His first mission led him through Hawaii to Hong Kong and eventually to China. Getting to China was his first big test of faith - he had no money, even for the first leg to Hawaii. Bob held the opinion that God knows ones needs already and if He has called you to a task, He will provide and enable you - just move out! He did just that and went to the L.A. airport that day without any money in his pocket. His faith paid off as God provided the funding for each leg of his trip just at the moment he needed it. This was the norm rather than the exception throughout his career as an evangelist. What ever it was, where ever it was, if God called, Bob would act no matter what the circumstance......he knew that God would always provide.....and He did!
Bob had a compassion for the spiritually and physically suffering of the world. "He was the friend of the little people, the forgotten, the hurting, the maimed, the unheard and the unsung". Bob's theme was "Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God". It was Bob's personal belief that "wherever you find men and women who really love Jesus Christ, you find the compassion of Christ spilling out of them to meet human need." Over the years World Vision, Samaritan's Purse and other organizations like them; one in particular, Mission Aviation Fellowship Pilots (MAF), who flew Missionaries around the world in crisis situations, helped so many helpless and needy men, women and children. They knew first hand the healing power of God.
Bob dared it all to be obedient to the Lord's call. Once he had in focus the mission that God wanted him to accomplish, he followed in Faith to bring the unsaved to Christ. It was his opinion that " If you are an ambassador, act like one!"- no matter where you are. Bob would bring to memory how other great men of Faith were obedient even in the face of death. During World War II, a young South Korean Pastor, Mr. Im was mistaken for a North Korean Communist and imprisoned. During his internment, he would go around camp singing "Jesus Loves Me" and other Christian songs. He not only uplifted and inspired other fellow Christian prisoners to come together, he brought many more to Christ. Together he and another prisoner, Chaplain Voelkel, established a Bible Study where over 6,000 prisoners finished a six month Bible Study. Six Hundred (600) of those finishing the Bible Study became pastors and came back to Korea to preach the Gospel. In another instance, he related how a Korean school teacher was put to death in front of his students because of his faith and obedience to the Lord.
To be an ambassador for the Lord "is one of the greatest things that could ever have happened to anyone - to let God put a fish hook into you so deep that there is no way of ever getting off the hook."
"Bob did one thing all of his life, and that was to lead people to the foot of the Cross where they would put their faith in a risen Lord Jesus Christ. He lived every minute completely amazed that God could use him. No matter how much he was able to do in how many places, it was never enough." This was the kind of commitment Bob made to Jesus; "to commit yourself, give yourself away to God irrevocably, forever. Say to Him, go ahead and burn me up. Spend me. Eat me up. Use me for you Glory." And that's exactly what he did.
Being a man of God was not always easy for Bob and he paid a high price. In one measure or another he had to forsake his wife, his family, his Mother and Father, his brothers and sisters and other worldly possessions to follow Jesus. He not only lost his health, he lost his Daughter, Sharon, to death.
Committing your life to Christ in a Godless society is never easy; many times you feel like you may be the only one putting your life, your self image, your social acceptance on the line. As Bob came to realize, ". Someone has to go and pay that humiliating price of literally letting your ego be stomped on- not just pushed in and suppressed, but laid out there for people to stomp on. We need to do this by the grace of God with love and patience: sow the seed on rocky soil, nurture it, and maybe never be applauded."
Committing your life to Christ really comes down to this; What really matters
to you in Life?
On his death bed in the City of Hope, Bob left us this one message - "I don't care what you have attempted. What you have succeeded at, or what has been your work in Christ's name while you are here on earth - only one thing matters when you have reached the last step before you go to stand before Christ:
- Did you tell men and women who Jesus is?
- Did you bring them to some comprehension of His redeeming love?
- Did you make it plain to them that He alone can pay their way to heaven throughout His atoning death on the cross?"
Such was the life of a man of God, Bob Pierce.
HIDDEN CODES OF THE BIBLE
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ACT 17:11 - Exhorts you to daily review the scriptures to see if what is being said is true
References: Grant R. Jeffrey - "The Signature of God"- RECOMMENDED READING
Other reading: "The Hebrew Factor" by Yacov Rambsel
Prepared by D. E. Davis
Daniel 12: 4 - "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."
Here is undeniable proof, the third in the series, that every word, every letter and every punctuation in Bible text was put their by the inspiration of God. It gives new meaning to the words "increase knowledge". It's just one of the many signs, and without a doubt, the most exciting revelation that God said he would reveal to man in the "end time". As you will see, God has put his signature throughout the Bible, has revealed History before it ever happened, all through hidden codes that were supernaturally placed into text which was written over 2,000 years ago; which could only be found with today's computer technological advances. The codes are found in what scholars call "Equidistant Letter Sequences" or ESL. That is, each sequential letter in an encoded word or phrase was found the same distance apart numerically; The exact interval designed by God.
Actually, the discovery of hidden codes in scripture dates back to before WWI and it was not until 1988 that the use of computers were able to detect a significant amount of coding in scripture. Since then, the research that Grant Jeffrey and others have done has just exploded and new discoveries are happening every day.
Here is a summary of what has been found and outlined in Grant's book, referenced above. It is my understanding that he is in the process of writing another book to tell what he has found subsequent to "The Signature of God".
Luke 21:15 - " For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay (refute) nor resist."
Proverbs 25:2 - "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter."
THE SIGNATURE OF GOD
What follows is what most of the human race would find hard to believe. It unfathomable to think that the Hebrew Bible, containing 304,805 Hebrew letters, written by 40 individuals could contain hidden messages that if one letter was taken out of the text, one word was removed, the hidden message could not be revealed......yet the message has been sustained for over 2,000 years and has been revealed to man just as Jesus said it would be. Jesus has actually placed His name and other messages about Himself into text which proves he is the creator of all; King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
GOD'S SIGNATURE
God has personally signed scriptures throughout the Old and New Testaments in various ways. For example in the Old Testament, he has encoded his name, Jesus, in the following scripture:
THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD FROM ANCIENT TIMES UNTIL TODAY
God has also encoded unbelievable detail about many of the things we read about and which touch our lives daily. For example, he outlines:
PLACES AND THINGS
· Gen. 2: 4-10 - The key word "Eden" was spelled out sixteen (16) times in the span of 379 Hebrew letters. The letters were all equidistant from each other.
· Gen. 2 - In this chapter which deals with the garden of Eden, scientists found encoded in the Hebrew text, Twenty-five (25) names of trees that were in the
Garden of Eden.
· Gen. 1:1 - Starting with the first appearance of the Hebrew letter "Tav", the word "Torah" was found every 50th letter.
· Ex. 1: 1 - Again, starting with the first appearance of the letter "Tav" and counting every 50th letter, the word "Torah" was spelled. Num./Deut. - In the book of Numbers the word "Torah" was found spelled backwards every 50th letter. In the book of Deuteronomy, "Torah" was found again spelled backwards, but this time every forty-ninth (49) letter.
NAMES AND EVENTS
· Holocaust
· Deut. 10: 17-22 - Beginning with the second to last appearance of the Hebrew letter "bet" in this passage, they found every Thirteenth (13) letter, the phrase "b'yam marah Auschwitz" which means "in the bitter sea of Auschwitz." Also encoded in this passage were the names of the other Nazi Concentration camp, "Belsen".
· Deut. 33:21 - Beginning with the letter (resh) that appeared in the Hebrew word "Yisreal," and counting every twenty-second (22) letter from the left to right they found the phrase "re'tzach alm" discribing the Holocaust, which when translated, means "a people cry murder, slaughter."
· Adolph Hitler
· Deut. 10: 17-22 - The word "Hitler" spelled out in Hebrew was found every twenty-second (22) letter.
· Deut. 33:16 - Beginning with the first appearance of the Hebrew letter "mem" and every two hundred and forty-sixth (246) letter from left to right you find that the coded letters spelled out the phrase, "Melek Natzim," which translates as the "king of the Nazis."
· Eichmann
· Deut. 32:52 - Beginning with the appearance of the first letter (aleph) and counting from left to right every six hundred and seventy (670) letters, the name "Aik'man" is spelled, which is the Hebrew form of the name "Eichmann."
· Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
· "Sadat occurred together with the name of the leader of the Moslem Brotherhood assassinating team that killed him.......it contained the year of his assassination, 1981, and the words "president," "gunfire," "shot'" and 'Murder".
· Desert Storm
· Beginning in Gen. 1:7 and continuing through the rest of Genesis, Grant Jeffrey indicated at the Prophesy Conference in Irvine,Ca. on 27 Sept. 1996 that they had recently found information in hidden code in scripture relating to Desert Storm. I believe more details will be available in Grant's next book.
· The French Revolution
· Gen. 39,41 - "Another passage in the Book of Genesis revealed a cluster of encoded words that deals with the French Revolution. The following words are clustered ogether" "Mapecha HaSarfatit" which spells "the French Revolution" in Hebrew, "Louis," the name of the French king, and the word "Beit (house of Bourbon,") his royal dynasty. In the same cluster were the following words: "Hamarseilles" (the name of the French anthem) and the word "Bastillia" (the infamous French prison for political prisoners........"
OTHER HISTORICAL INFORMATION
· Word pairs - "In their initial experiment, .......the scientists arbitrarily chose three hundred (300) Hebrew word-pairs that were logically related in meaning, such as hammer and anvil, or tree and leaf, or man and woman." ".....the researchers were astonished to find that every single word-pair had been located in Genesis in close proximity to each other."
· King David's Ancestors
· Gen. 28 - " Every one of the five Hebrew names of these ancestor of King
David (Pharez, Zerah, Boaz, Obed, Jesse) were found encoded at forty-nine (49) letter intervals, hidden within the text of Genesis 38".
· Famous Jewish Rabbi - "The Jewish people celebrate the memory of their famous sages by commemorating their date of death. Incredibly, the computer program found every single one of the sixty-six names of these famous rabbis embedded in the text of Genesis paired at significantly close proximity with their actual date of birth or their date of death."
IS THE HEBREW BIBLE UNIQUE TO GOD' S INSPIRED EMBEDDED CODES?
Grant points out that "The researchers attempted to reproduce these results by running the computer program on other religious Hebrew texts outside the Bible, including the Samaritan Pentateuch. .......the researchers could not detect word pairs in the Samaritan Pentateuch or any other Hebrew text outside the Bible. In fact, an exhaustive analysis reveals that no other Hebrew text outside the Old testament contains these mysterious codes, not even the Hebrew apocryphal books written during the four hundred years before the birth of Christ"
A WORD OF CAUTION
"No one can search the Torah using these codes to foretell future events. The reason is that it is impossible to extract the encoded information unless you already know what the future facts are." "The prophet Isaiah warned against false prophets and declared that only God can Prophesy future events accurately
(Isa. 46: 9,10).
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"Computer tapes are now available so that anyone with a computer can personally verify the existence of these codes beneath the text of the Scriptures.
As Christians, we can stand firm in the word and shout for joy. God has given us "the words and the wisdom that none of our adversaries will be able to refute or contradict", no matter how much they try!
PRAISE THE LORD!
SIGNS OF THE TIME
References: Grant R. Jeffrey - "The Signature of God"- RECOMMENDED READING
Prepared by D. E. Davis
June 10, 1997
Prelude
How do we know that Jesus is the one true God when there are so many religions, cultures and cults that claim that they serve the one true god? How about Buddha, Allah?
Scripture says that God alone knows the beginning from the end. The way that God establishes His authority is through Biblical Prophesy. There are over 500 prophesies that were prophesied over 2,000 years ago that have all come to pass. There are still some Old Testament that have yet have to be fulfilled (Daniel Ezekiel), but there has never been an event prophesied that has not come to pass in it’s time. 100% accuracy tells us that the God of the Bible is the only true God. No one else in the history of the world, living or dead, can make this claim.
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In Matthew 24:3, just before Jesus' ascension into heaven, the disciples of Jesus ask Him what would be the sign of His second coming. Over the centuries various groups have attempted to guess when Christ would return to the earth to claim His inheritance as promised throughout scripture. As we know, no one has been right yet!. God clearly states in Matthew 24:36 that no man, not even the angels, know the day or the time when Christ will return. Only God the Father knows.
This summary is clearly not another attempt to forecast this event. This summary does, however, attempt to provide an awareness of what is happening around you so that you will not be caught unaware. (Ref. Luke 21:34 and Matthew. 24:42).
ACT 17:11- Exhorts you to daily review the scriptures to see if what is being said is true.
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----------------------THE SIGNS OF THE TIME-------------------
Grant Jeffrey has done a wonderful job of providing critical information about events that are happening in this generation that all Christians need to know; Events that were prophesied over 2,500 years ago. Approximately 90% of the material contained herein was extracted and summarized from Grant's book. I highly recommend reading this book as it contains so much more that you will want to know.
THE REBIRTH OF ISRAEL
The rebirth of Israel was prophesied in several scriptures throughout the Bible. Isaiah 66: 8 predicted that Israel would be born again in "one" day. Ezekiel 4:3-6 and Levitcus 26:18 foretold the exact number of days that it would take Israel to re-establish themselves as a nation in the last days. ( The exact calculation can be found in Grant Jeffrey's book referenced above). On May 14, 1948, the Jews proclaimed their independence of the reborn state of Israel.....The exact day that was predicted over twenty-five (25) centuries ago.......No other ancient nation ever ceased to exist for a period of centuries and then returned to take its place on the stage of world history."
PRESENT ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT
In Psalms 83:2-8, God inspired King David to predict that upon Israel's rebirth as a nation it would be immediately surrounded by their enemies. The modern names of those nations named in scripture include Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria....the nations that have now joined the Palestinians in their attempt to destroy Israel.
In Gen. 12: 3, God has promised to punish those nations that come against Israel. "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
RESTORATION OF THE HEBREW LANGUAGE
When Israel was captured by Nebuchadnezzar in approx. 562 B.C., Israel was no longer allowed to speak the Hebrew language, but had to learn the language of the Chaldeans. The Lord predicted, however, through Zephaniah 3:9, that he would restore a pure language to Israel so that they may "serve him with one consent". It was in the early part of this Century that the Hebrew language was revived from the dead language. Today, Hebrew is a living language to over 5 million Israelis.
THE FERTILITY OF ISRAEL
In Isaiah 27:6; 35:7 and Joel 2:23, the Lord prophesied through these prophets that the deserted, unproductive, barren land of Israel would once again become productive in the last days and that Israel would experience tremendous increases of rain. Ever since Israel has returned to the land, they have flourished in the land and now supply over 90 percent of the citrus fruit consumed in Europe. Rainfall has increased by more than "10 percent every decade for the last century and Israel has planted in excess of two hundred (200) million trees and transformed the complete environment of the Promised Land." According to the United Nations, Israel is now "the most agriculturally efficient land on earth."
THE UNWALLED CITY
Ezekiel 38:11 speaks of the future invasion of Gog and Magog (Russia) saying "And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of un-walled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls and having neither bars nor gates". Grant explains that "even army bases and Israel's settlements in the West Bank and Gaza have no walls today.........How could Ezekiel have known twenty-five centuries ago that the development of modern weapons such as bombs, airplanes and missiles, would have made walls and gates irrelevant for defensive purposes in the last days. In the ancient past even small villages as well as cities depended on walls for defense against invading armies."
PLANS FOR REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE
Revelations 11:1, 2 foretells of Israel rebuilding the Temple in the last days. There is much controversy between the Israelis and the Muslim's because the Dome of the Rock (Al-Aqsa Mosque) it is believed, sits on the very spot where the Temple is suppose to be built. In recent years, however, aerial Infra-red photography shows that this may not be the case. Ezekiel 44:14-18, tell about the sacred vessels and linen robes that must be used in the Temple. "The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has already prepared over 75 of the objects, vessels, and linen garments required for future Temple service.......over 500 men from the tribe of Levi have already been trained to fulfill the duties of Temple worship and sacrifice."
Update:
Just recently in the Washington Post on May 28, 1997, it was reported that a 10 month old heifer named "Melody" is the first red heifer to be born in Israel in over 2,000 years. "In ancient times, the ashes of a red heifer were mixed with spring water to purify high priests before they entered the Temple."
THE REBUILDING OF BABYLON
We know that the old city of Babylon (now called Iraq) will be built again in the end times because Isaiah 13:6, 19 foretells of its destruction. In Isaiah 34:8-10 it is prophesied that the rebuilt City of Babylon will burn for ever.
"As unlikely as it seems, the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein has spent over one billion dollars rebuilding the ancient city of Babylon and intends that it will become the center of their future renewed Babylonian Empire. Interestingly, the whole city of Babylon was built over an underground lake of asphalt and oil."
THE ANOINTING OIL
The prophet Daniel prophesied in Dan. 9:24 that the when Jesus returns, that the most Holy of Holies will be anointed with the anointing oil. "One of the five ingredients, afars' mon, was thought lost forever, when the Temple was destroyed in A.D. 70 and the only two groves of afars'mon trees in existence were burned
to the ground. Incredibly, several years ago, archeologists in Israel found a clay flask buried near the Dead Sea caves filled with the ancient oil of anointing. Scientists confirmed that the oil is two thousand years old and is composed of the precise ingredients described in Exodus 30:25,26."
PESTILENCE/FAMINES/EARTHQUAKES
Matthew 24:7 prophesied that in the last days "For nation shall rise against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilence, and earthquakes, in divers (various) places." Grand Jeffrey writes regarding these matters:
· Pestilence - In 1991, the Central Intelligence Agency produced a report which "concluded that up to 75% of the population of Africa living in the area south of the Sahara Desert may become infected with AIDS over the next 12 years. This will mean the death by AIDS of over three hundred million people in Africa alone. In July 1991, the South African Medical Journal reported that a staggering 47% of black male and female blood donors tested positive for AIDS during 1989."
In Nov. 1996, the Associated Press reported that "Sexually transmitted diseases are diagnosed 12 million times a year in the United States - including a staggering 3 million cases among teen-agers".
· Famine - The United Nations today "claim that over thirty million in Africa are now at risk of dying from the most devastating famine in this century. The UN estimates that one billion people are in danger of starvation while another billion lack proper nutrition. North American food reserves (grain and corn) are at the lowest level in sixty years."
· Major killer earthquakes – “Major Killer earthquakes (7.2 or greater on the Richter scale) occurred only once per decade throughout history until our century. However, since A. D. 1900, the growth in major earthquakes has been relentless. From 1900 to 1949 it averaged three major quakes per decade. From 1949 the increase became awesome with 9 killer quakes in the 1950's; 13 in the 1960's; 56 in the 1970's and an amazing 74 major quakes in the 1980's. Finally, in the 1990's, at the present rate, we will experience 125 major killer quakes in this decade."
WORLD WIDE COMMUNICATION
In Revelation 11:9,10, it is prophesied that during the tribulation period, the antichrist will have the two witnesses that God sent killed and their bodies will lay in the street for three and a half days while the whole world watches.
Did not the whole world watch Desert Storm on CNN television? With all the technological advances in telecommunications, including the recent opening of the World Wide Net to our computer industry, any event happening in any part of the world can now be viewed while it is happening. The prophesy of the two witnesses could literally be fulfilled today. This could not have happened just 10 or 15 years ago.
INCREASED KNOWLEDGE AND TRAVEL
Daniel 12:4 prophesies how much knowledge and travel will increase in the end time. "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."
Today, it is estimated that "Human knowledge is growing so quickly that it literally doubles every twenty-four months." With the discovery through the use of modern "Super" computers by Grant Jeffrey and other researchers of the hidden codes that God supernaturally designed into the original Hebrew text of the Torah describing not only the history of the world in advance, but also verifying his Authority through His personal signature throughout his scripture, we realize that God chose this generation to reveal this unique aspect about himself.
It is also amazing that in this century, we have gone from horses to cars, from cars to supersonic spacecraft; not only can we now travel the world in a matter of hours, but in the case of the U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery, we can now travel at speeds in excess of eighteen thousand miles per hour.
REVIVAL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Daniel 2:40-44 predicts that the old Roman Empire will be revived in the end times into a ten Nation alliance. We currently see the foundation being laid today through the European Economic Community. "In 1957, six (6) Countries signed the Treaty of Rome laying the foundation for the future United States of Europe.............Since then the Maastricht Treaty consolidated the fifteen (15) Nations of the European Union into the worlds first superstate." All it will take is the re-shuffling and/or the consolidation of Nations to bring this prophesy to a literal fulfillment.
ODDS THAT THESE PROPHECIES WERE FULFILLED BY CHANCE IN THIS GENERATION
"In the Bible there are several types of generations. One generation is defined as the length of life of the average person - seventy or eighty years. However, a generation of governing is usually defined as forty years,...........During the last two thousand years since the days of Christ, there were fifty such forty-year generations. Therefore, the odds are one chance in fifty that any one of these specific prophecies happened by chance in our generation rather than some other generation."
"The odds that more than one event happening in our life time are:
"Another way of looking at this is that the chance that the prophets of the Bible correctly guessed these prophecies is also one in 97,500 trillion............in other words, it is simply impossible that men alone could
have written the Bible without the supernatural assistance and inspiration of God."
Matthew 24:32-35 - "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Luke 21:28 - "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
ANTI-CHRIST TO BE REVEALED
As of today, no one knows who the Anti-Christ is, but we do know what God has told us about him:
Many people try to spiritualize or say the events prophesied in the Bible are just symbolic. Any doubt about how God handles these prophetic events should have been erased on May 14,1948. God is literally fulfilling scriptural prophesy before our very eyes. Can we expect anything less for those few remaining prophesies for which He has promised the world; 1) the removal of the one who restrains the man of lawlessness/Sin (the rapture of the Church), 2) His second coming to take possession of His inheritance, 3) The millennial kingdom and 4) the new heaven and new earth.
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Ezekiel 33:6 - "But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand."
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