THE RFID

Just in case it isn't well-known, the RFID (radio frequency identification device) is a computer chip that is implantable. There are already people wearing it in their hand in the fleshy part of the hand, between the thumb and index finger. This chip has the capacity to hold ALL one's information, health records, financial records, and, of course, your location.

The Bible talks about just such a device. It's referred to as the "Mark of the Beast" in Revelation 13:16-18, it says, "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. (666)

Pretty soon, the RFID will become mandatory. But, we are strictly WARNED not to get it! Don't do it!

What's Our Strategy?

I gotta say, I have to disagree with the strategy that many of us have taken: hiding our heads in the sand and hoping that it all goes away. Believe me, I have been there and done that. It's the first reaction of our carnal minds and our flesh. Self-preservation. That's how we feel on auto-pilot. HIDE. PRETEND IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

"It's happening in Syria, Iraq, Africa, France, Israel... but it's not happening where I am. ---Maybe I'll get raptured. Maybe Jesus will come back before it gets to us. Maybe I'll die of a heart-attack. Maybe we can bunk up in the basement and live on emergency rations..."

It reminds me of my attitude when I was attacked by 6 dogs. (I'm not sure whether it was 5 or 6 or more, but they were ferocious.) Now, most dogs are all bark and no bite, but these dogs were specifically trained to attack. And, when I saw them rushing at me with their teeth bared, my reaction was... I turned my back on them and CLOSED MY EYES.

A sister-in-the Lord and I had been hitch-hiking from Toronto to Niagara Falls and were let out of a car on the side of the highway. I had been a born-again Christian for a year and she was a little older in the faith. She was a beautiful girl, petite and feisty and full of the Spirit of God.

As we began to walk along the side of the road, we heard barking from the top of a hill. The dogs had apparently been penned up but were released the moment we had gotten out from the car. It seemed those dogs were coming at us from three different directions so I turned to run into the traffic to cross the six-lane highway to get away from them. But, that full-of-faith sister held me back.

"Don't do it! You'll get killed!"

She turned and faced those dogs and pointed at them, yelling, "I rebuke you, in Jesus's name!"

I stood there watching, dumb-founded as those dogs broke stride and froze! They actually left a margin of space between her and them. BUT, one of them, upon noticing my lack of attacking initiative, started to sneak around the "barrier" to come up from behind me!

The sister wheeled around and yelled at me to rebuke those dogs. So, I suddenly found my courage and pointed at that sneaky dog, rebuking him. We both yelled at those dogs until they literally tucked their tails between their legs and RAN back up that hill where they'd come from!

Did I ever learn a lesson that day! It worked! The angels of God fought the battle for us. But, it was up to us to call on the name of the Lord and focus our attacking initiative against the enemy!

Even when the enemy comes in like a flood, if we do not fear, if we stand our ground and trust in Jesus, the enemy MUST FLEE. He has no choice. He has no rights. He must give us leeway.

"When the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of God will lift up a standard against him." That standard is what marks our territory. WE ARE THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH and the enemy of our souls is forced to recognize that, when we stand our ground in the name of our King.

The Devil and his helpers are just like naughty, disobedient children. For one thing, they have NO STRENGTH against God's children UNLESS they FIRST obtain permission from Jesus! Did you know that? And, Jesus has promised not to let one hair of our heads perish! He is VERY protective of us and jealous of us. And we are constantly surrounded by his powerful angels that easily overpower the Devil's strongest forces.

Our spiritual weapon is the Sword of the Word. The Word is what determines the outcome of every spiritual battle. That's because the Devil or Satan must obey God's Word. So, that's why is it so vitally important to be STRONG IN THE WORD and in the POWER OF HIS MIGHT and RESIST THE DEVIL. He's a bully and a punk!

DON'T do like I did with those dogs. Don't TURN YOUR BACK ON THE PUNK! We must constantly DRAW THE LINE and continually ORDER THE DEVIL TO LEAVE. He will also constantly disobey but, even if he does try to disobey and squeeze in, we must be VIGILANT to KEEP THE STANDARD UP!

Are we training our children in the Word? Are we teaching them how to HEAR FROM GOD? How to use the spiritual weapons? Don't ever underestimate your child's angel! Their angels are HUGE.

My heart is breaking for the dear Kurdish women soldiers who are going up against ISIS! Their warfare is physical, but, nevertheless, they believe that's what they need to do in order to protect their families from being enslaved, raped and beheaded by that wicked cult. So, may God protect those brave women who have given up everything to join the front lines.

But, we are not physical soldiers. We are soldiers of the cross. It is the cross that will protect us, defend us and fight for us. That cross is more powerful than all the physical weapons of this world.

Do you know how much power there is in the NAME of Jesus Christ?

Do you know, furthermore that there's an angel behind you that is seven feet tall? If you are a born-again believer in Christ as your Saviour, YOU have a huge, powerful angel that follows you, overshadows you and waits to do your bidding. Don't leave him idle. I, for one, have started keeping my angel plenty busy. I never want him to get bored! In fact, I keep a lot of them busy. Praise God. They're here for us to USE, right? So, why not? It's their job!

The WORD and PRAYER are the MOST POWERFUL WEAPONS on the planet. No kidding. They are the primary weapons of all warfare. If you don't believe that, you don't believe all the miracles in the Bible.

Here's the words to a great song, as much as I can remember:


"The fight is on! Arouse ye soldiers brave and free! Jehovah reigns and victory will asure!
Go buckle on the armor God has given you and in His strength, unto the end, endure.

The fight is on, oh Christian soldier
And face to face in stern array
With armor gleaming
And colours streaming
The right and wrong engage today..."

So, it's time to exercise those faith muscles and learn how to wield the weapons of our warfare. Let's stop hiding our head in the sand and turning our back to the dogs. Amen?

Why aren't We Reading the Book of Revelation?

The unreading of Revelation is rampant. It's puzzling. Is it an epidemic? It seems to have been going on for quite some time now and I wonder, "Why?"

Is it because we are AFRAID to read it? The main excuse seems to be that nobody can understand it. Well, that's just not true. EVERYONE can understand it. It's just words.

Maybe some of us think, "It doesn't apply to me." or, "I'm not going through the Tribulation. I believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory."

But, if God didn't want us to read it, WHY IS IT IN THE BIBLE?

If one really feels they cannot understand it or they're afraid to read it, one could start by reading it backwards. The last chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22 is just glorious and overwhelmingly wonderful! So is chapter 21.

Read it backwards. By that, I mean, start reading the last chapter from the beginning of that chapter. Read the happy ending!

Nevertheless, we NEED TO BE INFORMED. GOD WROTE IT TO BE READ.

I so admire those who are out there in the field, winning souls to Christ. They are out there obeying the Lord to the best of their ability and bringing in the sheaves to his glory. There's going to be a mighty harvest of souls. This is just the beginning.

Those who are coming to Jesus now are being born right on the battle front. They will need to grow up fast and then turn around and teach the next batch of newborns! And, we know the only way to train up a new babe in the Lord is with the Word of God. And, after the Gospels, I'd jump them right on over to Revelation and get them chewing on that as soon as possible. Not to scare them, but to thrill them!

This AGE is coming to an END! WE ARE IT! THIS IS IT! This is the time we are living in and so that means that WE ARE CHOSEN. How exciting is that? How great is that?

The False Prophet is ON THE SCENE! We already know who he is by WHAT HE IS DOING! The man who is absolutely fulfilling this role is Pope Francis. If he's not, I'll eat my hat.

They call him a prophet. Miracles happen around him. People worship him. (Like all the popes have been worshipped, which is disgusting. People bow the knee to a human being as if he were some kind of god. It's a curse!) Pope Francis is our Public Enemy Number 2, folks. He is thrusting us into the New World Order and the Mark of the Beast. So, BEWARE THE POPE.

The way I figure is, if the second BEAST is already FRONT AND CENTRE on the world stage, how long can it possibly be before the seven year peace covenant is confirmed? NOT LONG!

There was a warning on Youtube, to Americans, that if the banking system goes down on a Friday with some excuse about a computer virus or suchlike thing so that the BANKS CLOSE and you can't get your money, that means there will be 72 hours before MARTIAL LAW kicks in. So, they were saying, "whatever you have to do or whatever you have planned to do in such a case, you'll need to do it then because you'll have only 72 hours".

Well, we Christians have had a warning of a lot more than 72 hours. Jesus said that when we see the "Abomination of Desolation" stand in the Holy Place, we should flee out of Jerusalem. So, we know that there are warnings and that many of us will survive all the way through the Tribulation up until the Rapture.

But, if we're just going to continue with a "business-as-usual" and "go-with-the-flow" type mentality, we may very well lose out on the opportunities and experiences the Lord has in store for us. If our spiritual eyes are shut tight because we are fearful and we bury our heads in the sand, we could lose our crown, so-to-speak.

Don't let the Devil steal your destiny!

READ REVELATION TODAY!

TRY IT! YOU JUST MIGHT LIKE IT!

Battle of Armageddon

Here are a few clarifications to help with understanding the book of Revelation. By the way, have YOU been reading the book of Revelation? It's fun. It's exciting. And, it's happening NOW.

So, where exactly ARE we now in the book of Revelation?

Chapter 6!

That's right! The book of Revelation is happening RIGHT NOW. We are NOT in the Tribulation, yet. We are not even in the last 7 years, yet. But, we are in chapter 6!

How would one deduce (prayerfully, of course) that we are in verses 8 through 11? Well:

#1 It is HAPPENING NOW on the EARTH.

All you have to do is take a look around you, or at least look on the Internet, the news, Youtube; that is, if it's not ALREADY happening in YOUR country! When is the last time in history that people were getting beheaded and crucified by the tens of thousands?? Crucified! And heads cut off with swords. It's archaic. It's also PROPHETIC!

#2 By reading the  preceding verse and the following verse, one is able to place the time.

For example, verse 12 says, "there was a great earthquake" and we know by reading Revelation that that "great earthquake" is the big one that kicks off the Wrath. We also know the Wrath happens directly AFTER the Tribulation and the Rapture.

So, HERE IS THE TIME FRAME I BELIEVE WE ARE IN NOW:

Revelation 6
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

People have been killed in the PAST with the sword, but this verse is not about the Middle Ages. We deduce that because it's in the book of Revelation AND because the earthquake that happens in verse 12 puts us BEFORE THE WRATH and BEFORE THE TRIBULATION because, the Abomination of Desolation HASN'T been placed in the temple yet!

That pale horse could represent the Mahdi of Islam that is predicted to rise to lead the Muslim world to power. The refugee situation caused by ISIS and the like has brought about starvation. And, Hell definitely follows Death caused by ISIS and the other terrorist groups. (These guys are so well-organized and backed now that nobody is even calling them terrorists anymore. It's World War III, even if it hasn't officially been declared and it's very nebulous because, who really KNOWS who the enemy is? Is it the US? Is it Russia? Is it Islam? It's very confusing.)

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testiony which they held:

(Of the hundreds of thousands slain by Muslims this past year, how many thousands of them are now under the altar?)

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them: and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 

(Although the last 7 years has not begun, these forerunners of the faith have gone before us, laying down their lives for the faith as shining examples for those of us destined to go through the tribulation.)

NOW DO YOU WANT TO READ THE BOOK OF REVELATION?

I was visiting another church yesterday and discovered that, not only were the members NOT reading the book of Revelation, but they didn't know about the last seven years or the building of the temple. I believe it's very, very important to know these things. WE ARE AT WAR. This is serious stuff. Aren't you even CURIOUS? This is the MOST IMPORTANT TIME IN WORLD HISTORY!

Let me say that again:

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME IN WORLD HISTORY.

Don't you want to discover your destiny? Don't you want and need to know where you stand on the world's battlefield? It really is time to UNITE. It's time to SUIT UP. STAND STRONG AND FIGHT! The enemy of our souls is not playing games. Even though he has already lost, he's still going to pull out all the stops, pull out his big guns and try his hardest with every dirty, lowdown trick in the book to try to discourage us.

To discourage means to disarm us. That's what his motive is. He wants to discourage us, make us surrender our joy because our STRENGTH is in the JOY of the Lord. If we don't have LOTS of JOY, we need to desperately pray for it! Pray it in! I find myself praying for more joy and boy, God pours it out! You see, our battle is with WORDS and PRAISE and JOY.

PRAISING GOD is our STRENGTH. There is great POWER inside of our MOUTH. The devil can't STAND to HEAR the SOUNDS of PRAISE! HALLELUJAH!

We don't need to hand-wrestle the devil to the ground; all we need to do is open our mouth with PRAISE to GOD no matter how we feel or what's going on around us! HOSANNA!

Well, all that to say that, it's really not all bad news! Tell that devil (if you do want to even bother to talk to him) "YOU WILL BOW THE KNEE TO MY GOD, KING JESUS! Of course, you're SO stupid that you will need to go into the bottomless pit first to learn your lesson, but you WILL eventually BOW! Your head will be bloody AND BOWED!"

Ok, so that's his misfortune. That's his mistake for rebelling against our wonderful God.

The other thing that gets confused is the Battle of Armageddon. So, when does Armageddon happen?

Well, if it's not clear, Jesus returns to the earth TWO TIMES. Right? The first time, He doesn't necessary come all the way down to the earth, though. He comes in the sky with His angels and His angels gather the elect from the four winds and those believers who are still alive all rise up in the resurrection or "Rapture" that happens directly after the Tribulation.

The Battle of Armageddon happens during the WRATH of GOD which happens AFTER the Tribulation. (Repetition is fully intended.)

Ok, to make it really clear:

#1 The last 7 years begin with the 7 Year Peace Covenant: probably concerning Israel and the right for them to build their temple, possibly a dividing of the land and land rights for Palestine. (They have their own flag now flying at the UN, even though Palestine is not a recognized nation.)

#2 The One World Leader / New Word Order Dictator / Antichrist / Beast will BREAK the 7 Year Peace Covenant half-way through the seven years. He will put the "Abomination of Desolation" in the Jewish Temple.

#3 The Tribulation begins. (At this time, the RFID chip or the Mark of the Beast will become mandatory. Christians will refuse to accept it and the "people who know their God will be strong and do exploits". Are you ready?)

#4 Following the Tribulation is the "Rapture" when the saints ("Saints" is just another cute name for Christians. Although the Catholics have made that word, "saint" mean a perfect human being, there is no such thing as a perfect human being. But, we ARE all saints. Yes, YOU and ME! Because we are washed in the blood of the lamb! Nice, eh?) who are alive and remain will be caught up together in the clouds. The graves will open and those who died in the Lord will rise too!

This really sounds like some kind of fairy tale, doesn't it? Doesn't it sound like the mad rantings of a crazy, old woman? The world is going to enter into the SPIRITUAL REALM! I believe, even DURING the Tribulation, we are going to be SEEING and HEARING in the spiritual realm a LOT more frequently. In fact, even now, some of us are seeing more angels and hearing from the Lord more clearly. Gears are shifting and we are moving ahead into a new dimension. The physical body that contains our spirit is becoming less important.

In fact, Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

#5 Jesus and the 144,000 soldiers of the tribes of Israel come down on horses to fight against the ten horns (nations) that destroyed Jerusalem. This is called the Battle of Armageddon. And God's Wrath is poured out on all those who received the Mark of the Beast.

(It's interesting to note though that God gives the wicked one last chance and sends an angel out prior to the Wrath to announce salvation. Revelation 14:6 & 7 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." How merciful God is!)

#6 Satan is cast into the bottomless pit. No pity for the devil! Just the pit!

#7 1,000 years of Christ's rule! Yay!

#8 The devil is loosed from the pit. He didn't learn! Some people never learn. He goes and tries to fight against the Kingdom of God! And he gets struck down with fire, just like that. ZAP. And that is called the Battle of Gog and Magog.

#9 God burns up the surface of the earth and makes it all brand new with no seas.

#10 Those of us who received Jesus and learned our lessons get to rule and reign with Christ and I think we also get to inherit the earth. And we all live happily ever after. Praise God!

POWER FOR THE HOUR

Are you looking for some powerful promises of God to help boost your faith and get you through the terrible times ahead? (For many of us, those terrible times are RIGHT NOW.) It's still not too late to grab your Bible. I do prefer the King James Version, especially when it comes to the Psalms.

What I've been discovering and rediscovering is that God's Word has EVERYTHING I NEED! It's ALL there and there's nothing missing! And these days, it's ALL COMING TOGETHER. There are no unnecessary words in the Bible. Not one word will fall to the ground and not one prophecy will go unfulfilled.

Here's a great "persecution" Psalm! Psalm 37!

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.

6 And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light; and thy judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

(Here, we are instructed not to fret, much less fear the man, like the Antichrist who will soon bring wicked devices to pass. We don't need to worry about him or his agenda, just keep our eyes on Jesus.)

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

(Do you believe it? We'll inherit the earth! Of course, God's going to have to clean it up a bit, first.)

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight theselves in the abundance of peace.

(No more wars? Seriously? Imagine THAT.)

12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes upon him with his teeth.

13  The Lord shall laugh at him: for he sees that his day is coming.

(Yes, his day is coming! Very shortly.)

14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.

18 The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

21 The wicked borrows and pays not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

22 For such as be blessed of Him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of Him shall be cut off.

(Does that mean God curses people? Apparently so.)

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not see the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

27 Depart from evil, and do good, and dwell for evermore.

28 For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

32 The wicked watches the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.


WHY? BECAUSE WE TRUST IN HIM! Jesus, please help us to TRUST You, Lord and to put our lives in Your hands. AMEN!

Regaining Lost Treasures

When I first became a believer in Christ, Bible memorization was very important. Not only memorizing the Word, but reviewing the verses I had hidden in my heart. Eventually, it took two weeks at an hour per day to review all the verses and chapters I'd put down to memory.

However, lately, I've noticed that many of those verses are slipping from memory. I was sitting on the bus, going over as many chapters as I could recall and realized I'd totally forgotten many of the Psalms that used to be fresh in my memory. So, when I got to my hotel room, I quickly looked up Psalm 34, 36 and 37 to refresh my memory. What a mind-blower! Those Psalms are full of precious treasures that I'd almost lost with the passing of time. It was like rediscovering lost jewels.

Psalm 34
1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

(IMAGINE how our lives could be TRANSFORMED if we did THAT! King David, apparently was always praising God. It's reflected in the book of Psalms. Even though he went through tough battles, physical battles, spiritual battles and heart-break, he clung to the Lord. He continued to praise God.)

2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

(We can encourage others just by boasting about our awesome God!)

3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

(Wow! The fruit of seeking God is that you get delivered from ALL your fears.)

5 They looked unto him and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man (woman) cried, and the Lord heard him/her, and saved him/her out of all his/her troubles.

(All. A-L-L!)

7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

(Have you seen your angel? Do you ever ask them to help out? They want to be released to work on our behalf.)

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

(We get a blessing from trusting in God.)

9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

(Fearing God means you will not lack. That's a promise!)

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

(If it's good for me, God will give it to me. If I don't have it, I don't need it.)

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and persue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

(Are we believers righteous? Yes! By faith, we are, because we have the righteousness of Jesus. We are covered in the precious, pure, perfect blood of the Lamb! Hallelujah!)

16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

(Woe. God is not even going to LOOK at evil doers.)

17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

(If you have a broken heart, look at it as a good thing. That wounded heart will keep you close to Jesus.)

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

(This was a prophetic verse that Jesus fulfilled. None of His bones were broken.)

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.

(If we trust in the Lord, He will not allow us to starve!)

The Biggest Sword!

As the darkness deepens, the light will get brighter. Our relationship with Jesus is what is going to make us stronger. Our strength comes from the Lord. Our strength comes from the JOY of the Lord!

WE HAVE THE BIGGEST SWORD!

"For the Word of God is quick (alive) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

The Word of God is ALIVE and POWERFUL. I have taken to "using" that verse on any level on any occasion for any difficulty. Admittedly, there have been several occasions of difficulty lately. But, if there were no difficulties, we wouldn't be so prone to claim the Word and discover its magnanimous power.

I say this to encourage you. The Word is AMAZING ON EVERY LEVEL. You can use it to discern what people are thinking! You can use it to judge a situation and make decisions. It's alive. It comes to your rescue. It provides. It leads the way. It opens up mysteries. On and on...

A friend of mine said that with all the terrible things going on in the world, she is afraid. I just hope that this blog isn't instilling fear in anyone's heart. That's certainly not the intention. The intention is for believers to get stronger, grow spiritually, get encouraged, get information about the future, fall in love with Jesus and all kinds of good things. And for the undecided or non-believers to want to try what we have in the Lord.

They don't call Him the Most High God for nothing. The most high one can get is getting high on the Holy Ghost. A spiritual encounter with the living God will blow your socks right off. It is highly addictive to get hooked on Jesus. Frankly, I can't get enough! And it's a BLAST to share Him with others.

Fall in love with Jesus. He's the Gift that keeps on giving.

Yes, we are going to go through the Great Tribulation. Yes, it's going to be bad. It's going to be worse than anything that has ever happened on the earth until this time, especially in Jerusalem. But, and this is a huge BUT...

What kind of a Commanding Officer would go into a historically enormous battle without having first fully prepared his troops? Wouldn't He want us to be fully prepared and equipped and specially trained to fulfill the duties of our rank to the best of our abilities? Wouldn't He want EXCELLENT, OBEDIENT and STRONG soldiers to send to the front lines?

I don't know about you, but lately I have been hungering and thirsting after righteousness and getting as much information about the upcoming battle as possible, looking to fellow Christians and those with testimonies of faith. 

It's okay if I don't believe every jot and tittle of their doctrines or if they differ in their opinion on smaller, insignificant beliefs, as long as they love Jesus and believe in the power of God. And by watching Youtube, I've found I can tap into some amazing, on-fire Christians who are leading the way in miracles and manifestations of the Spirit.

There is evidence all around that, as the darkness deepens, the Lord's army is getting charged up and primed for the biggest spiritual battle in history. The devil is going to have God's permission to persecute believers and even be allowed to kill SOME of us. Those ordained to die will have dying grace when the time comes. Those whom God will protect and keep alive will be so-well protected that not even a hair of their heads will perish.

The Lord knows exactly where you fit in this battle. He knows your calling, gifting and destiny. I do believe the Lord will show us when/if it's our time to go, or if He doesn't actually tell us, He'll pour out such an anointing of power on us that we will rise above our earthly flesh like Stephen did. Many of the martyrs were said to have died smiling and praising God. They didn't die sadly. Their deaths were a witness that won their ENEMIES to faith in the Lord!

I had a dream that I was arrested and taken to an arena where there would be lions or other animals released to kill me there. For a moment, I sort of froze, although I wasn't terrified. I just cried out desperately to God and asked, "WHAT DO I DO NOW, LORD?" Then, as I looked up at the people sitting in the grandstands, it came to me that this was an opportunity to preach. So, I started yelling as loud as I could, telling everyone how wonderful Jesus was and how much He loved them! And then I woke up! That was a very encouraging dream.

We will have power for the hour. We DON'T HAVE IT NOW because WE DON'T NEED IT YET but, when the time comes, we will each rise to fulfill our destiny with shining colours and make Jesus proud! Meanwhile, we can pray for each other, grow in faith, put our faith into action and fall in love with Jesus.

WE ARE WARRIORS

Phil Driscol said, "I'm a warrior in the greatest army in the universe. The army of God!"

Praise God.

"We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12

Do you want to know how this verse came alive to me several years ago? I was living in Turkey at the time. I had been there for a few years, but it never failed that whenever the mosque call came on, I became very agitated in spirit. But, this time, I was with a group of Christians and as we were praying together, the mosque call came on.

I started speaking loudly in tongues and at the same time I had a vision of black evil beings flying out of the speakers on the top of the mosque and flying outwards in all directions, like messengers of darkness. My tongues seemed to be saying something and I was in fighting mode.

Then, one of the brothers there, praying with us began to speak. He began to interpret the message that I had given in tongues. It was Ephesians 6:12! As he quoted the verse, I nodded my head. Somehow I knew that that was exactly what I had just spoken in tongues.

That spiritual wickedness and those messengers of darkness are compassing the world. World War III is upon us. The "Sword of Islam" is upon us. And it's no joke. People are dying for their faith. Some people are dying without any faith and some are being sent to hell by ISIS, Boco Haram, the Muslim Brotherhood, Alqaeda and other Muslim sects. They're all of the devil.

You can say that there are "moderate" Muslims. Yes, you will find sweet, friendly and even peaceful people from the Islamic religion. I have Muslim friends. But their religion is not sweet and friendly, even if they are. Even if the Qur'an has some truth and peace in it, the religion of Islam is violent, promoting Jihad (to kill the infidel or Christian/Jew/Catholic) and, if that's not bad enough, they are sending their own young men to hell by suicide bombings.

We can say we have identified some of the enemies of the cross.

There are more. In fact, we're surrounded. The only safe place in this world today is in Christ.

Psalm 34:7 "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."

Those angels aren't going anywhere! They are camped around us! We are surrounded by some very tall, very happy campers! And they love us and want to help at the least little opportunity. They're right there at our right hand.

The funny thing is that, even though Russia and Turkey agreed to go fight ISIS together, it turns out that Turkey is now gunning down Russian planes. They shot down, not only a Russian plane, but also the two pilots who parachuted out of the plane and the helicopter that Russia sent out to find the pilots! They also shot a missile into the car of three Russian journalists!

Another funny thing is that the Americans, who are supposed to be fighting terrorism after 9/11 are actually supplying ISIS with weapons and support! It's a crazy world we live in.

Here's something else: the Catholic Church is also the enemy of true believers. This is something that has become more prevalent with the notoriety of the FALSE PROPHET, Pope Francis and his agenda for the New World Government which will lead to the enforcement of the Mark of the Beast.

It seems the lights are going out on the world. Who can we trust? And EVEN in the LORD, we need to have a lot of discernment about who we fellowship with. 

For me, I have been praying to meet sold-out believers who put their faith in the Word of God. When you meet those who put their trust entirely in the Word of God--- enough to READ it, you can be sure that there will be a pure meeting of the hearts in the Lord and in the Word of Truth.

Those believers who spend TIME reading the Word will be strong in the days to come. But, if we don't know the Word, we don't know our God very well, because He IS the Word.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

Ephesians 6:10 - 17
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayers and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Marin Luther said, "Though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us!" Also,

"Let goods and kindred go! This mortal life also. The body they may kill, God's truth abideth still. And WE WILL WIN THE BATTLE!"

In fact, beloved, WE HAVE ALREADY WON! WE ARE THE VICTORS!

Do you know what I tell the devil EVERY DAY? I tell him,
"Your KNEE WILL BOW TO CHRIST!"
 

Martial Law, FEMA Camps and Guillotines

Maybe it's time to talk about the elephant in the room. What is going on in America?

Muslims are pouring into the US these days. Legally, too. And the red carpet is being rolled out for them.  90% of all worldwide refugees are Muslim. Among these refugees are the Muslim extremists, terrorists and murderers. When someone suggested to Obama that the refugees should be asked at the border whether they were Christian or Islamic, Obama said,

"That's not who we are."

Now we know who we ain't. WHO ARE WE, EXACTLY? Because if we are NOT Christians and America is no longer a Christian nation who upholds Christian standards and beliefs and protects the rights and freedoms of Christians, then the alternative is very DARK.

I think most Christians in America are fully aware by now that they are losing their rights. When it comes to the gun law ruling, an article spoke out against Christians in particular, labeling them as being the "most dangerous". (More and more we are seeing that it's perfectly acceptable to bash Christians but don't dare to bash ANY OTHER RELIGION, in particular Islam.)

But, isn't it the Muslims who are bringing all this terror on the world? Isn't it Islam that tortures, rapes, crucifies and murders Christians? (THE WORLD TURNS A BLIND EYE. THEY SAY, "It's not only Christians." AS IF THAT MAKES IT ALRIGHT.)

Hitler didn't JUST kill Jews. But, I think it's fair to say he focused on them because he considered them a threat to society. A worse than Hitler is here.

The scary part is that ISIS (or IS or ISIL) are aided and abetted by the US. So, when the "Trojan Horse" shows up in the guise of "refugees", who will protect unarmed Christians in America? Obama? He considers Christians to be a threat!

So, who are the FEMA Camps being set up for? "Enemies of the State"?

The military has been carrying out manouvers ON AMERICAN SOIL in American communities. Armored vehicles, tanks, trucks and armed soldiers are swarming the streets. Seriously. Obama has everything set up for Martial Law and it looks like it's on a hair trigger to get started.

Who would have guessed that guillotines were still being manufactured? Go figure. It looks like the modern version is a little more "clinical". The US recently imported 30,000 of these babies. That's right 30,000 brand spanking new GUILLOTINES. It's another way to behead, only a little faster than the ISIS swords.

Think of the practicality of the guillotine. No electricity. No chemicals. No muss. Well, maybe a little muss. All the organs of the body will stay fresh and uncontaminated, ready to sell at the highest prices!

Ok, so let's get back to a little more inspiring note to end this on, shall we?

IT WON'T BE LONG, NOW UNTIL JESUS WRAPS THIS UP! We will soon start BEGGING HIM TO COME! "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!"

The main message I think God is sending is "THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME" and "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth but lay them up in HEAVEN." That's our true home, the one where peace and truth and LOVE dwells and where we will see all of our loved ones and brothers and sisters in the Lord AFTER THIS MESS IS FINISHED.

It's exciting, isn't it? We are LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS! HOW COOL IS THAT?

Who's an Idiot?

Today, a man, a stranger that I don't know, called me an idiot. People feel that by putting someone else down, it lends credibility to their statements, I guess.

I had made a comment on a video at Youtube to say that in Syria, people are asked whether they are Christian and if the answer is, "yes", it's "Off with your head!"

Hey! I didn't make this stuff up! It's happening and everyone knows it. But, this guy called me an idiot saying that, "If that was true, there would be no Christians left in Syria, you idiot."

My reply was, "Isn't that the goal? It's a Jihad, right?" (I didn't say, "You idiot" because I was trying to be a good example as a Christian.)

Speaking of good examples, those dearly beloved Christians standing up for their faith are SHINING EXAMPLES.

 (From "Voice of the Persecuted)
 Written by a Christian brother who has been directly affected by persecution in Syria. He has suffered the greatest loss anyone can experience, his family. The persecution of his family was a turning point in his life. He realized the need to tell the truth of what’s happening in Syria. He realized he needed to warn and wake the West.
While the extremism and persecution is being directed against Christians in the Middle East, which is a crime against civilization as well as humanity, the effect of this campaign of violence and intimidation has been devastating for Christianity in Syria. Syria boasted a flourishing Christian population of at least 3 million. Today,  the small number of Christians left is a astounding. Most of these Syrian Christians have fled the country, but a staggering number have been killed.


All should see and realize what happened not only to the Christians in Syria but to the civilization.
Radical Islamism and the terrorism that has come to be associated with it, has peaked in the Middle East and especially in Syria. Violent radical Islamism is no longer, if it ever was, limited to the likes of al Qaeda (or ISIS), but rather like-minded networks of autonomous Islamist radical terror cells who aid one another in pursuit of common goals now crisscross the globe and the next journey is to the West.

The blood lust of Islamism is thus rooted in a perverted religious impulse to kill and mutilate in the name of Allah. This is what makes it so insidious and wicked. The killing of innocent men, women, and children in the name of Islam becomes a thing of praise and a badge of honor. The more you kill, the more Allah is honored.

Report: Syrian Christians Cry ‘Jesus!’ Before ISIS Mass Beheading

AP

by Mary Chastain5 Oct 201513,933

The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) executed 12 Christians, including a 12-year-old boy, after they refused to abandon their faith and convert to Islam. The murders occurred on August 28 outside of Aleppo.
“In front of the team leader and relatives in the crowd, the Islamic extremists cut off the fingertips of the boy and severely beat him, telling his father they would stop the torture only if he, the father, returned to Islam,”. “When the team leader refused, relatives said, the ISIS militants also tortured and beat him and the two other ministry workers. The three men and the boy then met their deaths in crucifixion.”
The boy’s father was a “ministry team leader who planted nine churches.” One woman allegedly yelled “Jesus!” right before the terrorists beheaded her. Militants took eight aid workers, two of them females, to another village. They proceeded to rape the two females before they executed them.
“Villagers said some were praying in the name of Jesus, others said some were praying the Lord’s Prayer, and others said some of them lifted their heads to commend their spirits to Jesus,” described one source. “One of the women looked up and seemed to be almost smiling as she said, ‘Jesus!'”


The barbaric radical Islamic group has executed more than 11,000 people in “Iraq and Syria since its establishment of a self-proclaimed caliphate in June 2014.” ISIS captured Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, in that month. For over 2,000 years, Christians and Muslims lived peacefully with each other. But when ISIS invaded, the Christians were told to either leave, convert, or pay a subjugation tax. They kidnapped the majority of the females to sell on their sex slave market while they slaughtered the males in front of their families.

“It is like going back 1,000 years seeing the barbarity that Christians are having to live under. I think we are dealing with a group which makes Nazism pale in comparison and I think they have lost all respect for human life,” explained Patrick Sookhdeo, founder of Barnabas Fund. “Crucifying these people is sending a message and they are using forms of killing which they believe have been sanctioned by Sharia law. For them what they are doing is perfectly normal and they don’t see a problem with it. It is that religious justification which is so appalling.”

In July 2014, Andrew White, the vicar of the only Anglican church in Iraq, told BBC Radio 4 that Christianity is coming to an end in the Middle Eastern country.

“Things are so desperate, our people are disappearing,” he said. “We have had people massacred, their heads chopped off. The Christians are in grave danger. There are literally Christians living in the desert and on the street. They have nowhere to go.”
“Are we seeing the end of Christianity?” he continued. “We are committed come what may, we will keep going to the end, but it looks as though the end could be very near.”

Christians have spoken out about the treatment they endured from ISIS. They said ISIS destroyed churches and statues of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, and raised the black flag in Mary’s place. Terrorists robbed the Christians at checkpoints, taking the earrings women were wearing.
“There is not a single Christian family left in Mosul,” said Bashar Nasih Behnam, who left with his two children. “The last one was a disabled Christian woman. She stayed because she could not get out. They came to her and said you have to get out and if you don’t we will cut off your head with a sword. That was the last family.”

---

At several steps on their path to death by beheading and crucifixion last month, 11 indigenous Christian workers near Aleppo, Syria, had the option to leave the area and live. The 12-year-old son of a ministry team leader also could have spared his life by denying Christ.

The indigenous missionaries were not required to stay at their ministry base in a village near Aleppo, Syria; rather, the ministry director who trained them had entreated them to leave. As the Islamic State (ISIS), other rebel groups and Syrian government forces turned Aleppo into a war zone of carnage and destruction, ISIS took over several outlying villages. The Syrian ministry workers in those villages chose to stay in order to provide aid in the name of Christ to survivors.

"I asked them to leave, but I gave them the freedom to choose," said the ministry director, his voice tremulous as he recalled their horrific deaths. "As their leader, I should have insisted that they leave."

They stayed because they believed they were called to share Christ with those caught in the crossfire, he said.

"Every time we talked to them," the director said, "they were always saying, 'We want to stay here—this is what God has told us to do. This is what we want to do.' They just wanted to stay and share the gospel."

Those who chose to stay could have scattered and hid in other areas, as their surviving family members did. On a visit to the surviving relatives in hiding, the ministry director learned of the cruel executions.

The relatives said ISIS militants on Aug. 7 captured the Christian workers in a village whose name is withheld for security reasons. On Aug. 28, the militants asked if they had renounced Islam for Christianity. When the Christians said that they had, the rebels asked if they wanted to return to Islam. The Christians said they would never renounce Christ.

The 41-year-old team leader, his young son and two ministry members in their 20s were questioned at one village site where ISIS militants had summoned a crowd. The team leader presided over nine house churches he had helped to establish. His son was two months away from his 13th birthday.

"All were badly brutalized and then crucified," the ministry leader said. "They were left on their crosses for two days. No one was allowed to remove them."

The martyrs died beside signs the ISIS militants had put up identifying them as "infidels."

Eight other ministry team members, including two women, were taken to another site in the village that day (Aug. 28) and were asked the same questions before a crowd. The women, ages 29 and 33, tried to tell the ISIS militants they were only sharing the peace and love of Christ and asked what they had done wrong to deserve the abuse. The Islamic extremists then publicly raped the women, who continued to pray during the ordeal, leading the ISIS militants to beat them all the more furiously.

As the two women and the six men knelt before they were beheaded, they were all praying.

"Villagers said some were praying in the name of Jesus, others said some were praying the Lord's prayer, and others said some of them lifted their heads to commend their spirits to Jesus," the ministry director said. "One of the women looked up and seemed to be almost smiling as she said, 'Jesus!'"

After they were beheaded, their bodies were hung on crosses, the ministry director said, his voice breaking. He had trained all of the workers for their evangelistic ministry, and he had baptized the team leader and some of the others.

Hundreds of former Muslims in Syrian villages are in danger of being captured and killed by ISIS, which is fighting to establish a caliphate in which apostasy is punishable by death. The underground church in the region has mushroomed since June 2014, when ISIS began terrorizing those who do not swear allegiance to its caliphate, both non-Muslims and Muslims. Consequently, the potential for large-scale executions has grown along with the gains in ISIS-controlled territory.

The ministry assisted by Christian Aid Mission is providing resources and trying to find ways to evacuate these families by other routes.

Many of the ministry's teams also remain in Syria. Christian Aid Mission assists those who do not or cannot leave with the means to survive.

Even those who leave, however, may encounter ISIS militants and other criminals in refugee camps, said the leader of another ministry that Christian Aid Mission assists. He spoke of a Muslim from northern Syria who, like all men in areas that ISIS takes over, was coerced into joining the caliphate or being killed.

Recruited into ISIS, he fled the country after his brother was killed in the fighting. Disillusioned with ISIS but still adhering to Islam and its teaching that Christians and Jews are unclean "pigs," he went to Amman, Jordan, as he had learned that relatives there were receiving aid from Christians.

The Muslim, whose name is withheld for security reasons, went to a Christian meeting with the intention of killing the aid workers gathered there. Something kept him from following through on his plan, though, and that night he saw Jesus in a dream, the ministry director said.

"The next day he came back and said, 'I came to kill you, but last night I saw Jesus, and I want to know what are you teaching—who is this One who held me up from killing you?'" the director said. "He received Christ with tears, and today he's actually helping in the church, helping out other people. We're praying for lots of such Sauls to change to Pauls."

The sorrow of the ministry team leader who lost 11 workers and one of their children last month has been deep, but he takes heart that their faithfulness could help change the hearts of persecutors.

"They kept on praying loudly and sharing Jesus until their last breath," he said. "They did this in front of the villagers as a testimony for others."

He asked for prayer for surviving family members and for himself.

"These things have been very hard on me," he said. "What wrong did those people do to deserve to die? What is happening is more and more people are being saved. The ministry is growing and growing—in the past we used to pray to have one person from a Muslim background come to the Lord. Now there are so many we can barely handle all the work among them."

"THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS IS THE SEED OF THE CHURCH."

One great prayer we can pray is for God to give Muslims visions of Jesus. It's amazing how many Muslims these days are coming to the Lord through Jesus Himself appearing to them in dreams or visions! 

Salvation is Forever

Here's how I see God. God is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent; that means He knows it ALL, He is ALL powerful and He is EVERYWHERE. So, that means He knows everything from the beginning to the end. Our entire history on planet earth is a blip on His screen. Do you agree?

If so, He knows His own. He knows who is going to be saved from the beginning of the creation. He knows every hair on our head and how many there are!

Therefore, if one is truly saved, they cannot "lose" their salvation. If you are saved, you are saved. It's a done deal. You confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and YOU ARE SAVED. Period.

How do you lose that?

By being really, really, really BAD? By being lazy, inconsiderate, by stealing, cheating, lying, committing adultery, gambling, drinking and smoking? I mean REALLY BAD. You MURDER someone in cold blood! Doesn't THAT lose you your salvation? Doesn't God have to punish you by taking away your salvation, like the Catholic Church excommunicates people when they do bad things?

My Catholic friend was surprised to find out that I actually believed I AM SAVED and I KNOW I am going to heaven. (Actually, the heavenly city, New Jerusalem is coming DOWN TO US! HA.) When I asked where he was going, he said he preferred and hoped to go to heaven. So, when he saw how convinced I was of the gift of salvation, he immediately asked (as do many)

"EVEN IF you do bad things? EVEN IF you go out and kill people and steal?"

And I sort of have to laugh because, when you think about it, salvation truly IS a MIRACLE that God can just outrightly forgive us for EVERYTHING, wash our sins away in His BLOOD and allow us into His presence is all a MIRACLE, isn't it?

But, the Bible says there's nothing that God cannot forgive.

The thing is that Salvation is being born again. That is a metamorphosis like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Does the butterfly turn around and try to change back into a caterpillar?

Once you have received Jesus Christ into your spirit, He becomes one with you! You are born again into a whole new life. Like a newborn baby, your spirit starts to grow in faith in HIM. You start ditching all the lies, changing your point of view and having different opinions about the things that matter. You are NO LONGER THE SAME.

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new."

Think about that famous verse, John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but HAVE everlasting life."

Wouldn't God be an "Indian-Giver" if He took back His gift? Plus, as I have said, He already knows everything we are going to do in our lives, so why would He even GIVE us the gift if He was going to take it back?

(The other side of that coin is that, just because someone prays to get saved doesn't mean that it happens unless they truly believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead and sincerely want to accept Jesus as their Saviour. It's really between them and God whether they got born again or whether they don't; whether they are praying to God or just repeating words that mean nothing to them. Only God knows their heart.)

Being a born-again Christian does NOT mean you will suddenly be "good". NO WAY. Sorry. That is just NOT going to happen, so you may as well give up that idea right now. We have to fight the devil and fight our "old man" EVERY DAY of our lives and, let me tell you from experience, sometimes it's NOT PRETTY and it's NO FUN. We really have to put on our boxing gloves and go a few rounds! It's painful and there are TRIALS of your soul to where you have to SEE yourself and your sinful flesh the way God sees it! But, the closer you get to the Light, the more you want to be exposed!

What Salvation is: Once a person is saved, that means no longer needing to worry about death or fear dying! You are saved! You receive a "Get out of Prison Free" ticket because Jesus paid the price for you on the cross. His perfect blood was the sacrifice for our sins. Once saved, we are a child of God and He protects us and provides for us. He answers our prayers. (I put a whole list in a previous post on here.)

WE CANNOT EARN SALVATION. Right? Can we pay enough? Can we suffer enough? NO. Because we are mere humans. Only our Messiah the Prince could do that. So, HOW can we KEEP ourselves saved? Well, we can't. We can't be good enough to keep it either. It's a GIFT.

Getting to know Jesus is a supreme addiction. You find you really can't get enough. You start to feel that it's worth ANYTHING to have the ecstasy of being in the wonderful presence of God.

Here's how I see this: if you don't KNOW you're saved, maybe you are NOT. You probably ARE, but you need to make sure from the Word that you CANNOT LOSE IT BY SLIPPING UP. God is NOT going to punish you by taking away your salvation. Salvation is His ownership. He owns you and he's not going to let the Devil get you back! He promises us that. You were a child of God from the foundation of the earth and He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the end.

What Salvation ISN'T: Being saved does not mean your flesh is sin-free. There remains sin in our flesh until the day we die. But, that sin helps us to grow and learn and it's even for our good because "all things work together for good for them that love God." Romans 8:28

How many times does God have to die for our sins? Is once enough? So, for you and me to accept that free gift He died for, isn't once enough? Or, do we need to keep asking Him for it every day?

"Oops, I told a lie, yesterday. There goes my salvation, again. Better go back and get saved."

Um, no. We should ask for forgiveness, sure. If we are persuaded of sin, of course, we should confess it and forsake it. But, remember, we have no power within our flesh to "be good" and our carnal mind is constantly fighting against God. (Isn't yours? Mine sure is.)

Our salvation is NOT by FEELINGS. It's by FAITH. No matter how we may feel, we KNOW that God loves us, forgives us and has given his life for us. How amazing is that?

Do you KNOW where you're going when you die?

Please make a comment below if you have a chance and I can pull up dozens more verses on salvation. The reason it's called "Eternal Salvation" is because it's eternal STARTING NOW or starting whenever WE RECEIVE IT! All we have to do is ENJOY!

And share it with as many others as possible! Amen?

THE WRATH OF GOD

There seems to be some confusion about the Wrath of God: When does it happen? Who is on the earth when it happens? Which verses are about the Wrath and which ones about the Tribulation? Having read the book of Revelation umpteen times, it slowly came to me the order of events and also I realized that the time frames overlap, much like in a movie when the camera zooms in on one scene but there's something else happening at the same time so the camera goes to that a moment later. Except in the Bible, the chapters don't tell you: "Meanwhile"...

God willing, I'd like to help make this so simple a caveman can understand it. Also, just so you know, I'm NOT interpreting ANYTHING but simply showing you what the Bible already says. So, anyone who takes the time to read it word for word, prayerfully can come up with the same understanding. It's a bit tricky but, once you get it, it's laughably simple and the pieces fall into place themselves.

In the order that they are written, here are the verses covering the WRATH OF GOD:

Revelation 6:12-17

How do we know that this is talking about the wrath of God? Simple. It says so in verses 16 & 17.

 (Maybe I should mention here that, if you have the King James Version of the Bible, there will be no confusion because it reads: "wrath of the Lamb" and "his wrath". But if you have a different version of the Bible, it may change that word "wrath" to some other word.)

The Wrath of God continues into Chapter 7.

Verses 1 - 8 talk about pre-wrath sealing of the 144,000. MEANWHILE (before the throne) Verses 9 - 17 talk about what is going on with "they which came out of great tribulation".

So! This is Post Rapture IN HEAVEN and at the SAME TIME, the SEALING of the 144,000.

Do you want to know how I know that this is THE BEGINNING OF THE WRATH? Because, if you look at chapter 14:1, the 144,000 are on Mount Sion with the Lamb. And we KNOW that Jesus will come to Mount Zion with His army for the Battle of Armageddon and that this battle happens DURING THE WRATH OF GOD. (I will prove that to you as we go on.)

The Wrath of God continues into Chapter 8!
The SIXTH SEAL STARTS THE WRATH with a "great earthquake" which we will see again. (same earthquake talked about 3 times) The earthquake KICKS OFF the Wrath of God. Remember, this is happening shortly AFTER the RAPTURE.

In Chapter 8, the SEVENTH SEAL CONTINUES THE WRATH (although, there is silence for half an hour in heaven before God hands out the seven trumpets.)

OK? Chapter 8 = WRATH, Seventh Seal, Seven Trumpets.

The Wrath Continues right into Chapter 9 from verse 1 to the end!

In this chapter, the angels are asked not to hurt those men of Israel who have the seal of God in their foreheads and these are the same men who came down from Heaven with Jesus.

Chapter 10 is when time shall be no longer (verse 6) and John receives a book from the Seventh angel.

Chapter 11 goes backward in time to the Great Tribulation when the two prophets of God are prophecying in Jerusalem.

1-2 talk about the temple and and about the Holy City being trampled by the "Gentiles" (I would interpret the Gentiles as being Muslims. That is a personal interpretation if you will receive it. But, the temple will be built on Muslim territory and I think it's going to drive them nuts.)

3-8 talks about the two witnesses and their location being "Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified" which is, of course, Jerusalem. They rise from the dead in verse 11 and are called up to heaven in verse 12 and then....

THE WRATH!
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand...

There's the "GREAT EARTHQUAKE" that kicks off the Wrath.

I always think of the "rapture" as the "ascension" because it says "they ascended up to heaven in a cloud" like Jesus did and I believe that this is happening AT THE SAME TIME that the rest of the believers are ASCENDING or getting "raptured".

Can we agree that a "woe" is indicative of the WRATH? I would couple it together with that terminology. Woes happen to OUR ENEMIES NOT TO US! Again, we will NOT BE HERE FOR THE WOE!

Woe comes from God! On our enemies! Tribulation comes from MAN and the DEVIL and the BEASTS. And the TRIBULATION LASTS FOR ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS.

Chapter 11:14 The second woe is past; and behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

In verse 19, we see two things, the temple of God "opened in heaven" and the "ark of his testament" which is the ark of the covenant (I assume this is the original one made by Solomon, not the one that the Jews plan to make for the new temple. I say that because, God never instructed the Jews to build the new temple, nor another ark, nor to sacrifice.)

Chapter 12 The TRIBULATION
Ok, so we get all the way up to the twelfth chapter before reading much about the Trib. There is also war going on in heaven: Michael and his angels fight against the dragon and his angels.
(Do you ever feel that there's a spiritual warfare going on over your head? Well, we probably will feel it very strongly during the Tribulation.)

Chapter 13 focuses on the KEY CHARACTERS of the TRIBULATION
16 - 18 talk about THE MARK OF THE BEAST

Chapter 14 THE WRATH OF GOD (again)
In verse 1, Jesus has come down to Mount Sion with his 144,000 who are the firsfruits and they're getting ready to do battle.

In verse 7 an angel is announcing the judgment.

In verse 8 another angel announced that Babylon (Jerusalem) is fallen.

In verse 9 - 20 the Wrath is poured out, finishing with blood coming out of the winepress of God to the horses bridles. THAT'S  a LOT of BLOOD.

Chapter 15: 1 - 5 We see the temple of the tabernacle right before in verse 6, seven angels come out of the temple with the seven plagues. So, verses 6 - 8 is THE WRATH.

Chapter 16 focuses on the details of the WRATH. The VIALS ARE THE WRATH.
(Any time you see angels pouring out stuff, you know it is NOT FOR BELIEVERS. It's for our enemies and the enemies of God.) Chapter 16 is when the Antichrist and his buddy get their dues!

Notice that in verse 18, the "great earthquake" shows up again! "so mighty an earthquake, and so great" and this is most-likely the same one that kicks off the Wrath of God or maybe it's another one that keeps going...

Also chapter 16 mentions the Battle of Armageddon.

Chapter 17 focuses on the fall of Babylon. First the ten horns or ten kings destroy Babylon and burn her and THEN they fight against Jesus and his army that come down during the WRATH.

Chapter 18 is a vivid description of Babylon, describing her in detail so that, any Bible-reader can identify her.

Chapter 19: 1 - 10 Victory Party! 11 - 21 Jesus and his army go down for the WRATH and the BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.

To be clear on that the Battle of Armageddon happens DURING THE WRATH OF GOD.

Chapter 20 IT IS FINISHED
In verse 2, the Dragon, which is the Devil is bound 1,000 years and cast into the bottomless pit.

AFTER 1,000 years, is the Battle of Gog and Magog which doesn't really get off the ground because the fire of God devours Satan's army.

Chapter 21 A new heaven and a new earth! Holy Jerusalem descends from God out of heaven!

Chapter 22 More about heaven. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

CALLING ALL SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS!

IT IS TIME!

We are under attack! The war has spread to Europe and will soon be in all the nations of the world. It's the terrorist attack predicted by the US, started by the US and funded by the US!

How ironic is it that 9/11 was an inside job, staged to bring on fear of terrorism that is now being BACKED AND FUNDED BY THE US?

 

All that aside, and nevertheless, the SWORD OF ISLAM IS UPON US! It is in their murderous hearts to rape and kill the proponents of any OTHER religion than Islam. And, guess what! That's US!

That's you and me, my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. That's YOU AND ME.

So, what should be our main concern?

 

#1 Our RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD! -- Get to really, really, deeply KNOW JESUS. HE IS OUR ONLY HOPE. (It has always been that way, but we were too busy trying to "do-it-ourselves" to realise that Jesus has been taking care of us and providing every step of the way. But, now we need to GET OUR BRAINS TO CATCH UP with what's been going on in the Spirit!)

 

#2 Our FAITH! Proclaim the promises of God over your life. Call down His blessings! Get surrounded with his powerful angels! CLAIM YOUR RIGHTS AS A BELIEVER! 

 

#3 PAY IT FORWARD! LIKE NEVER BEFORE, THERE IS A HUGE DECEPTION GOING ON ALL AROUND US. IT'S UP TO US TO PASS ON THE GOOD NEWS, that only JESUS can save you but He will also provide and protect and eventually prepare us for death. We have nothing to fear. We are in a bubble of God's protection EVEN unto death!

 

Hebrews 11

32 And what can I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of Davi also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

 

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

PS

I SURE HOPE none of you Christians is continuing to pray to Allah! Allah cannot save you! Therefore, Allah IS NOT GOD! In fact, in the name of Jesus, we bind ALLAH and SEND HIM TO THE PIT!

Ye are of More Value than Many Sparrows!

Luke 12:1-34
1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thoughts how or what thing ye shall answer or what ye shall say:
12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast
much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

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THE SWORD OF ISLAM!

Daniel 11:33 says, "And they that understand among the people shall instruct many:"
(Hopefully, that means that many will be open to instruction and that many who are deceived will become enlightened.) "yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil many days."

[Side note: When I became a new believer, fellow-disciples suggested that when the Bible spoke of "falling by the sword", it was probably referring to "guns". The reasoning was that guns hadn't been invented yet in the days of the ancient prophets, so they didn't have a name for "gun" and used the word "sword". But, look how accurate those prophecies are! Swords have come into play BIG TIME with ISIS. In fact, the "sword" of Islam is one of those huge puzzle pieces that fits perfectly and designates the time period we are in. It's amazing.]

When we look at ISIS or ISIL or IS, what we are seeing is the end results of deception. So, it would be wise to take a closer look at what is at the root of this deception and what motivates this evil. It's a merciless form of legalism where the executioner is also the unquestioned prosecutor, judge and jury!

"Off with their heads!"

The deception of Islam goes back a mere 1,405 years ago to around 610AD.

Have you ever wondered where the Muslims got their ideas for stoning offenders? For cutting off the hands of thieves? For crucifying offenders? Where did they get that term "infidel"? Why do they turn toward Mecca when they pray? Where did that idea come from? And what about multiple wives? How about the washing protocols? And the veil that women must wear? Where did they get those ideas? Huh?

From the Bible. Mostly the Old Testament.

There's a LOT of stuff in the Bible. It truly is an amazing book. Islam didn't come up with one original thought for their so-called "religion", they merely perverted things that came out of the Bible. The Devil knows the Word of God! He knows his enemy! Just as we should know our enemies!

I'm really putting my head on the chopping block here to say this but I believe that the three great religions in the world today: Catholicism/False Christianity, Islam and Judaism are perversions of the Word of God. ---Lies of the Devil, twisted truths, and the "letter of the law" with the Spirit of God's Love removed from it. Legalism, man's self-righteousness and works of the flesh are their core values. And THAT is why many people are saying,

"Religion is the worst problem on the planet."

Another deception is that Islam is a "peaceful" religion and that "all religions are peaceful". In fact, Christians have said this to me.

Islam has always been violent. It was born in violence. This "Holy Jihad" is a throw-back to the beginning of Islam when Islamists spread their "faith" by the SWORD as they are doing today.

Since June, 2014, ISIS (who now call themselves IS or the Islamic State) have killed over 10,000 people. That figure does not include suicide bombings, those killed in battle, or those shot while trying to escape.

3,027 were executed in Syria, another 7,700 in Iraq. 74 children were also killed. We're talking about beheadings and execution type murders. Only a very few of these barbaric beheadings have been caught on camera. The first thought that comes to many minds is, "They didn't only execute Christians."

Didn't they?

Well, if they didn't only execute Christians, you can bet that the proponderance of executions were of Christians and those who rejected Islam. There were a few Muslims, yes, of other sects of Islam that weren't as dedicated or were made examples of because of their lack of "peity", failure to fast "properly" or "sodomy", etc.

It is widely known that the Muslims believe they will earn their way into paradise by killing Christians. That's why they ask what religion you are before they cut off your head!

Crucifixion is a punishment to publicly display offenders but, in many cases, it does not lead to death. How ironic that they would use the punishment given to our Lord. It's so archaic. The barbaric Romans thought that one up.  

The so-called "Christian Crusaders" were not Christians and if any of them professed to be Christians, they were totally out of touch with Jesus. How can I know that for a fact? Because Jesus told us to love our enemies.

The apostles of Jesus Christ did not use violence or physical threat or punishment to take the Gospel forward. If anyone got killed, it was by an angel. The apostles didn't kill anyone. They healed people, they delivered people from demon-oppression and they surrendered themselves as martyrs into the hands of their enemies that Christ instructed them to love.

True followers of Christ are non-violent and non-retaliatory. (Sorry, all you gun-slingers out there who feel God has given you the right to use arms to "protect" yourselves and your families. Not so! True believers resist the Devil in the spirit with spiritual weapons and our weapons are not carnal.)

The Crusades were not ordained by God. That is why they failed. Lives were cost but Muslims were not won to the Lord. How could that be called a "Holy Crusade"? That was a dandy bad example of what Christians are NOT supposed to do. It was supported by the Free Masons and the "Holy" Roman Catholic Church which is not of God either.

Phew.

Deceptions are everywhere, like the sand of the sea.

I was thinking too about how ISIS is killing anyone who refuses to accept their religion and I wondered whether they were actually trying to cut off potential believers before they got saved so that they wouldn't get saved? In other words, they are sending people to hell, right?

Revelation 6:
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.
...and power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

[I honestly would hate to think that power is given to ISIS to kill 1/4 of the world's population! On the other hand, WHO ELSE IS GOING AROUND KILLING PPL WITH SWORDS?]

"yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil many days."

ISIS has been killing with the sword, hunger, flame, captivity and spoil. If they also use the beasts of the earth to kill people, that will be yet another sign, won't it?


9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 

Do you think that there are souls under the alter that were slain for the word of God? Where did those 10,000+ souls go that have been slain by ISIS?  Are they crying out to God asking Him to pour out His wrath on their enemies?

If so, the last 7 years are imminent.

What sign should we watch out for to place us at the beginning of the last 7 years? I believe there are at least THREE SIGNS:

1 THE CONFIRMING OF A 7 YEAR PEACE AGREEMENT
2 A NEW WORLD ORDER LEADER APPOINTED
3 THE CONSTRUCTION OF ISRAEL'S 3RD TEMPLE 

This I say by faith that the Lord showed me the Peace Covenant will include permission for the temple to be built near the Dome of the Rock. That, in itself, will take a miracle. But, that miracle of allowing the Jews to build will be a historical time freeze COMING SOON that will kick off the last 7 years of world history.

I hope you'll remember this when it happens because I also feel that there will no longer be free speech over the Internet in soon-coming days, Beloved. We will be even more heavily watched.

Why did Jesus Weep Over Jerusalem?

It says in Luke 19:41 And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it.

He was like a father, ashamed of his own child. If God didn't love Israel, He wouldn't punish her for her waywardness. But He does. And He will.

The Jews were about to have Him crucified and they were about to call down damnation on their children, too. "His blood be upon us!" That's how badly they wanted Jesus killed. 

Luke 19:43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. (They were visited by God and they didn't know it. In fact, they said Jesus was of the Devil!)


Matthew 23
1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and sribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharaias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Which one of us did not need to learn the hard way? Who hasn't been deceived into thinking that their own righteousness could save them? From birth we hear it said, "Be good so you can go to heaven." Bla, bla, bla... That is a LIE. For one thing, we cannot be good. Nobody is good. How can we be good enough to deserve salvation? We can't! All we can do is accept it and respect the Giver for the price he paid. It was a price unfathomable.

Abraham, who was asked to sacrifice his only begotten son, came close to knowing a bit of how Father God felt upon sacrificing Jesus. This act of obedience by Abraham made him the Father of Faith. There was a defining moment there when Abraham touched the very heart of God. And, for that reason, God blessed all the children of Isaac. (Isaac, not Ishmael.) Those chosen, those blessed are the grandchildren of Isaac, the sons of Jacob or Israel. 

Verse 39 is the happy ending! In the end, after God's wrath, Israel will say, "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord JESUS!" Amen and amen.