SEARCH GOD'S WORD

-by  Nathele Graham -


We live in a time that's exciting, but also can be frightening. Moral issues are at the forefront of much controversy, we continually hear of wars being fought or threatened, and people seem to snap and become violent for no reason. What's going on? You won't find the answers on the nightly news or in self-help books. The answers are found in God's word. Scripture is a collection of history, prophecy, moral guidance...and evidence of God's love for us. History begins at the beginning. God was there and spoke everything into existence, yet very few people believe Him. He told Adam not to eat the forbidden fruit, but Adam and Eve both ate it.

They didn't believe God when He said they would die but chose to believe Satanic lies and learned the hard way that God was telling the truth. If people today would believe God and follow His ways we would live in a better world. Satan's lies and deceit have caused all of the pain, suffering, and death that we face each day. When things go wrong in your life, blame Satan not God. Every word of Scripture was inspired by the Holy Spirit and if we don't study it we miss out on a treasure trove of knowledge, wisdom, and guidance.

"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.

God wants us to know Him. When you set yourself on a deep study of God's word you're taking on a challenge that's both exciting and rewarding. Begin your study with prayer and let the Holy Spirit guide you so that you'll grow in your faith in God and knowledge of His word. Search the Scriptures each day.

Throughout the ages people haven't always found it easy to study Scripture. The early Scriptures were written on large scrolls that were kept in synagogues. These weren't New Testament Scripture, but were the Old Testament. Before the New Testament was compiled people found that by studying the Old Testament scrolls they were able to easily understand that Jesus Christ was pictured and prophesied throughout Scripture. The Apostle Paul was very knowledgeable of the Hebrew Scriptures and encouraged others to use them to prove what was being taught regarding Jesus. When Paul went on mission journeys he would go to the synagogue and reason with the Jews using the Old Testament. One such place was in Thessalonica.

"And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." Acts 17:2-3.

Can you do that? You could start in Genesis chapter 3 where God covered Adam and Eve in coats of skin (this would require a blood sacrifice) to cover their sin or in chapter 22 where there's an account of Abraham's willingness to offer his son Isaac and Isaac's willingness to become the sacrifice. God didn't allow Abraham to sacrifice his son, but it's a picture of the very real sacrifice of God's only Son on the cross at Calvary. There are many more such examples and you should take time to search for them. Some of the people in Thessalonica found the truth, but others became angry and ran Paul out of town. He traveled to Berea where he once again went to the synagogue. This time instead of getting angry they studied Scripture.  He commended the Bereans for being willing to listen to what he said, but filtered what they were being told through Scripture.

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11.

The Scriptures they searched were the Old Testament. It's easy to be deceived if we don't know Scripture and it's easy to miss finding the truth if we don't search diligently.

Scripture has been given to us from God. The words contained in the Bible are all inspired by the Holy Spirit and need to be taken seriously.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, ,for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

When Scripture is taken seriously the confusing and contradicting doctrines of men are cleared up. Doctrine should never be built around one or two Scriptures nor should it be taken out of context. Erroneous doctrine such as the "name it and claim it" deception is built around one or two Scriptures rather than the whole of God's word. That's why it's important to study all of Scripture. God doesn't want anyone to be deceived. When Scripture differs from denominational teaching, always put God's truth above men's ideas. Whether something is taught by a Catholic priest, a Baptist preacher, or a man on television, search Scripture to be sure it's correct. That's what "reproof and correction" means. When we study Scripture and find differences between what we've been taught and what God's word says, we need to correct our doctrine. If the denomination you attend professes a doctrine that doesn't align with God's word, then they are in error.

Our righteousness only comes through Jesus Christ and our study of His word should help us to grow more like Him. Through study of both the Old and New Testaments we grow closer to Jesus and become more like Him. God wants us to know Him, and doesn't want us to stumble in our Christian walk from lack of knowledge. A good study tool is a concordance. Scripture is God breathed, but the truth is clear in the original languages. There can be some translation problems in going from Hebrew to English, for instance. A concordance will help you to a deeper understanding of His truth.

"NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105.

Here's a challenge, do you know what "nun" means and why it's at the beginning of this verse? God's word can't light our path unless we study it and understand it. In times past it wasn't so easy to study Scripture. The Catholic Church opposed anyone who tried to translate Scripture so it could be understood by regular people. Many false teachings were the result and the clergy gained too much control over the uneducated. This control happens today, but that's mostly because the "sheep" don't do their own study. Not only are many people willfully ignorant of Scripture but many countries make it illegal to own or read a Bible. If you're blessed to live where Scripture isn't illegal then search the Scriptures diligently and learn what God says.

Study prophecy too. Most preachers ignore prophecy and omit an important part of God's word.

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:19-21.

The prophets of old told of the coming Messiah and those prophesies were fulfilled by Jesus. Scripture also gives signs of the end times. Study prophecy to understand the times in which we live. Are we living in a time similar to that which the prophet Amos spoke about?

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it." Amos 8:11-10.

Both the Jewish Northern and Southern Kingdoms would eventually be taken captive because they didn't heed God's warnings. They disobeyed God's laws and they ignored prophecy. Could this be a lesson for us today? God's word is translated into virtually every language on earth yet many people refuse to listen or read it. The internet is full of Christian information, but search engines and sites like YouTube are hindering people from getting accurate information. By the way, search Scripture to be sure what you read on the internet is accurate. Jesus said

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6. Dust off your Bible and begin to read it. Search for truth that can only be found in God's word.

It's easy to slip into sin if we don't study Scripture. "BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:9-11.

Moral decay is constantly making news headlines. Parents don't teach  their children Scripture and public schools promote satanic lies. How can a young man or a young woman live godly lives if they aren't taught God's truth? Parents, take time to read Scripture with your children. Don't just send them to Sunday school but take them. Answer their questions and always hold Scripture as authority. Teach your children to pray and to love the Lord. If you don't teach them, who will?

We're living in the last days. Very soon this world will be plunged into a seven year period of judgment. According to Jesus this will be a time such as never seen before.


"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Matthew 24:21.

By searching Scripture you'll understand just how close we are to the end of time which has been prophesied. You'll also understand how important it is for you to draw near to Jesus. Prior to the final seven years of judgment, Christians will be Raptured.

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:50-52.

Everyone will leave this life one day, either by dying or by the Rapture. Either way, the only difference between eternal life and eternal torment is your choice to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour. God doesn't condemn anyone to eternal death. Each person makes their own choice by either accepting Christ's shed blood for salvation or rejecting Him. Search the Scriptures to be sure you understand the choice you make.
                                                                                                                                            
God bless you all,  

TRIBULATION CHRONICLES PART 4: ISRAEL IS THE KEY

 by Alice Johnson Childs -

Before I begin this next letter, let me take a moment to explain something to you, Dear Reader. As you progress through this series, you will notice that some of the information from one letter will be stated again in some way in successive letters. I am writing this series of chronicles in this manner on purpose.

First of all, every bit of information contained within these missives is vital for you to know. If you (or anyone else) are not familiar with the Bible or with biblical prophecy (as you are most likely not since you were left behind), then re-reading the truths contained within each letter will help solidify these truths in your heart.

Second and most importantly though, the main reason that these letters will carry some redundancies is this: although the entire series has been written to be read as a cohesive whole, it is entirely possible, even probable, that the entire series may not be available to you. In fact, it's likely that only some portions of this series of letters may be available at any given time because of the great upheavals that will be occurring. Therefore, I have deliberately chosen to put as much pertinent information as possible into each individual letter just in case the entire series is unavailable for any reason. I want each letter to contain as much information as possible for just this reason.

If you are able, try to keep the entire series together (I strongly urge you to print them out in hard copy or put them onto flash drives if you have the ability to do so) as I have attempted to write this series in the chronological order of coming events. However, if having the entire series together is not feasible for any reason, perhaps there will be enough information and Bible passages given in each individual letter to give you a starting point so that you can readily know where in the Bible to look for what you will most certainly need to know.

With that said, in the previous chronicle, I did my best to try to explain to you just how perilous things will be here on Earth after great vanishing will have occurred - that is after the Church will have been taken out in what is most assuredly the rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Remember I told you that, according to the scriptures, this period of time - the last seven years of human history under fallen creation - will be divided into two halves: the first 3 ½  years, and the last 3 ½  years, with the ending of those last years culminating in the literal, physical return to Earth of Jesus Christ, who will be returning as the conquering King of Creation.

Upon His physical return to Earth, Lord Jesus will do several things:

(1) He will rescue the remnant of the Jewish people (one third of them will finally believe in Jesus Christ as their true Messiah, and will be kept alive throughout this seven years (Zechariah 13:8-9), and ALL - every single one of these one-third believing Jewish remnant, will have finally come to recognize Jesus Christ as having been their true Messiah all along. At that time, the now-believing remnant of Jews will cry out to their Messiah Jesus to rescue them. Their Messiah King will hear their cry and will respond to rescue, save and preserve them from annihilation.

Sadly, two thirds of the remaining Jews will continue to refuse and reject their true Messiah, and will die as a result of their continued rebellion. At the midpoint of this last seven years, the believing remnant of Jews will be hidden away, most probably in the ancient rock city of Petra in Jordan, somewhere near Bozrah (Isaiah 63; Revelation 19:11-16). There they will be protected until Jesus returns to physically rescue them.

(2) At His return, King Jesus will utterly destroy the armies of the Antichrist and all others who have rebelled against Him (Revelation 19:17-21).

(3) At the time of His return, King Jesus will send His holy angels out into the world to gather and bring to Jerusalem, from all over the earth, the relatively few living people left (both Jew and Gentile), who will have managed to survive to the end of the Tribulation. There in Jerusalem, the conquering King of Glory will separate all those who remain alive - the believers from the unbelievers.

Those who are believers - those left alive from among the Gentile nations who remained faithful to Christ will not have taken the "mark of the Beast." They will aid and protect any Jewish person - particularly one of the 144,000 Jewish young men who were sealed by God to act as His missionaries during this time (whom Jesus called "My (His) brethren"). These Gentiles will demonstrate their love and devotion to Christ by protecting, preserving, and defending the Jews, and (along with the surviving one third of the now-believing Jews) will be allowed to enter into Christ's new earthly Kingdom alive and in their mortal bodies (Matthew 24-25).

All those left alive who rebelled against Christ by accepting, worshiping, and following the Antichrist - all those who accepted the Antichrist's "mark" - these lost, marked, rebellious ones will be judged and cast immediately into Sheol/Hades to await their final judgment at the Great White Throne, after which they will all be consigned for all eternity to the Lake which forever burns with fire

This separating out of believers from unbelievers is what is referred to in Matthew chapters 24 - 25 as the judgment of the "sheep" and the "goats." This judgment is not, I repeat, not a judgment of the Church at all since the Church will have already been in Heaven with Christ before the Tribulation began, and will have already returned with Him when He returns to put an end to this final seven years. No, this judgment is rather the separating out of all Tribulation survivors, the believers from the unbelievers, in preparation for entering Christ's Millennial Kingdom.

This "sheep and goat" judgment takes place on Earth just prior to the beginning of the Kingdom Age. Only redeemed believers in Christ, both Jew and Gentile, will be allowed to enter the earthly Kingdom of the Lord, King Jesus.

This believing remnant of humanity (consisting of both believing Jews and Gentiles) will enter the Kingdom still in their mortal bodies along with those who are also now immortals, which includes the glorified Church, all of the Old Testament Saints (such as Abraham, Daniel, David, Moses, etc.) and all Tribulation Saints who died during the Tribulation, both sets of whom will have by then received their Immortal and glorified bodies just like the Church-Age Saints. Thus, the Kingdom will begin with both mortals and immortals as inhabitants of Jesus' new Kingdom on Earth.

(4) He will renovate and restore the earth to its original, pristine condition, just as it was in Eden before the fall of man.

(5) He will establish His Kingdom on Earth where He will rule as absolute Monarch from His throne that He will establish in Jerusalem, Israel. This earthly Kingdom will last for 1,000 literal years, after which He will create an entirely new heavens and Earth. He will then abolish Time itself, change every living, believing mortal at the end of the Kingdom Age from mortal to immortal, and every believer of every age will forever after exist in immortal, glorified bodies in eternity - in what will be an "eternal now" with God forever.

But before Jesus returns, He will bring judgment upon this wicked world. He will use this last seven years to exact vengeance and holy justice upon all wicked and sinful mankind, who have shaken their collective fist in His face and who have embraced and reveled in their rebellion, debauchery, and sin. In essence, what Jesus Christ will do is cleanse Earth and restore Paradise lost.

As I told you before, the first 3 ½ years will be cataclysmic. One quarter (1/4) of earth's inhabitants will die from what in essence will be WWIII and all that ensues from it, along with unprecedented natural disasters both terrestrial and celestial in nature.

The aftermath of that will be famine on a global scale; rampant, pandemic diseases and pestilences will kill millions upon millions; animals on the brink of starvation will turn on humanity; and violence, treachery, and murder will become the norm.

This final seven-year period will begin benignly enough with the "confirmation of a covenant" made between a charismatic global leader and Israel. (Read the Old Testament book of Daniel, chapter 9, to learn about this last seven years).

The confirmation of this covenant will be the starting point of these last seven years of human history as we know it. Also, remember that I told you to watch closely the movements of a coalition (which is actually forming and strengthening as I am revising  this series now in late autumn of 2017) involving Russia, Iran and Turkey as the principle leading forces, called in the Bible by their ancient names of Magog, Persia and Togarmah. This coalition of nations along with others such as Libya and Sudan will attack Israel; but it will be God Himself who will intervene on Israel's behalf and save her from what would otherwise be certain annihilation.

As I am writing this, the precise timing of this attack is still being debated among Bible students. Most Bible students (including this writer) believe that this concerted attack upon Israel will most likely occur either just after the rapture or possibly simultaneously with it, and will likely be the first thing that will happen post rapture. You, of course, will know precisely.

Look for this coming covenant to come about as a result of this battle waged on the mountains of Israel. The Old Testament book of Ezekiel, chapters 38 & 39, recounts this battle using the ancient names for these modern countries. For example: Magog/Rosh is Russia, Persia is Iran, Togarmah is Turkey, etc.

What you need to know is this: the tiny nation of Israel is the key to everything. It is through this final seven years of this fallen world order that God is working to prepare the land of Israel and a remnant of the Jewish people, in order to fulfill to them the remainder of the covenant that He made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their posterity (see Genesis 15:18; Daniel 9).

Watch the tiny nation of Israel very closely. Not long after the covenant between Israel and the other nations is confirmed, there will be two mysterious men who will arrive in Jerusalem from seemingly nowhere. As I write this pre-rapture, I cannot be certain of their identities; however, there is a greater than good chance that one of them will be the Old Testament Prophet Elijah, and the other possibly the Old Testament Prophet Moses, whom God will have returned to life and to Earth for just this purpose (if indeed they are ever identified at all). At the time of this writing, it is impossible for us to know who they will be. You will be able to recognize them though.

Whoever they are, and whatever their names turn out to be, they will be very easily identified, because they will be two emissaries from God. They will be strong men with great supernatural power given to them directly from God. Their mission will be to open the eyes of Israel regarding Israel's true Messiah, Jesus Christ, whom Israel collectively has continually rejected (Revelation chapter 11).

It is through the ministry of these two emissaries of God, that God will save, seal, and eventually send out into the world 144,000 young, Jewish male virgins - 12,000 from the descendants of each of Israel's twelve ancient tribes.

These young men will be saved, called and sealed by God. They will be witnesses to Israel and will also be sent forth into every nation on Earth to preach the gospel of salvation and the soon- coming Kingdom.

The result of those saved because of their ministry will be incalculable. They will reap the greatest harvest of souls saved that will have ever been in history. They will fulfill Christ's "Great Commission" to "go into all the world and preach the gospel." Their salvation and calling will come as a direct result of the preaching and prophesying of these two mysteriously powerful "witnesses" of God. You can read about these 144,000Jewish evangelists in Revelation chapters 7 & 14.

These two men (the two witnesses) will be bold, unrelenting, powerful and utterly unstoppable for the first 3 ½  years. The man, who is the Antichrist, will hate them with a supernatural hatred, and they will be a thorn in his side for the entire first half of this seven-year period. As a direct result of their ministry, MANY, MANY Jews will finally come to believe in and accept Jesus as their Messiah and Savior. These two men, as I said, will have supernatural powers and will be able to call down fire from Heaven on anyone who tries to do them harm. They will be supernaturally protected by God for the first 3 ½ years.

At the very midpoint of this last seven years, God will allow these two men to be killed. Their dead bodies will not be buried, but will lie in the streets of Jerusalem where ALL of the unsaved people will be able to view their dead bodies. The world will actually party over their deaths. This partying will go on for 3 ½ days when God will suddenly raise these two men back to life in full view of the entire world via satellite TV, the Internet, YouTube etc., or by cell phones. Three and one half days after they are killed, God will resurrect their bodies and take them up into Heaven in full view of the world as further testimony to God's power, authenticating that God is indeed in full control of everything.

At the midpoint of these seven years, events from this point on will get far worse than is even possible to fully describe. You will now be entering the period Jesus Himself referred to as "Great Tribulation."

As horrific as the first half has been, this last half will be exponentially, exceedingly worse. There will be torment, death, and cataclysmic judgment unleashed on an unimaginable scale. If you will have somehow survived thus far, your odds of survival to the end will drop to almost nil. If you become a believer, you will be ruthlessly hunted down and your survival will be even less likely.

As I keep telling you, the chances that you will live to the end are extremely small, and if you should physically survive but have still refused salvation - that is, if you take the Antichrist's "mark" in your right hand or in your forehead - then you will absolutely and certainly be cast into Hell anyway. For to take that mark (whatever it turns out to be) will seal your fate in Hell for all eternity.

You are entering a time unprecedented in human history. Supernatural occurrences and events will become the norm from now on. You will see and witness things that no one in history has ever seen. Do not forget, that during just the first half of this last seven years, these things will happen in rapid succession:

(1) A powerful global leader who will be the Antichrist (although he will at first seem like a savior) will use peace as his rallying cry, and by peace will destroy many.

(2) War on a global scale will break out which will most likely involve multiple nuclear events.

(3) Global famine will ensue as a result of this war. Murder, violence, diseases, and pestilence will increase exponentially. (Read the New Testament book of Revelation, chapter 6 up through the opening of the 5th seal to find out what will happen during this first 3 ½  years after the signing of the covenant).

Again, I urge you, come to Christ while you still can. You have no guarantee that you will survive the next seven minutes let alone the next seven years.

Keep reading, for you need to know what is to come in the last half of these years if you should be granted the chance to live through them.

THE DOMINOES KEEP FALLING

By Grant Phillips -

 

I was reading our state (commonwealth actually) news this morning and noticed that one of our senators wants to introduce a bill to legalize marijuana in Kentucky. This got me thinking about Satan's battle plan, i.e. just keep knocking over the dominoes.

 

Allow me to list just a few observations.

 

We've had alcohol in the large cities for many years. However, I can remember when Lexington, KY used to "close down the sidewalks" in the days of the Blue laws (Sunday laws). Not so now. The wild nightlife can now be found just about anywhere in this city any day of the week.

 

The Kentucky lottery began in April 1989. The excuse was to use the money for education; schools, class rooms, teachers, etc. [Update: didn't happen. Teachers are using their own money for the classroom, haven't received a decent raise in years and their pensions are going down the tubes.]

 

Over the last few years or so, most all of the smaller communities have practically outlawed smoking, BUT, not to worry, it has been replaced with ... that's right ... you got it ... ALCOHOL!

 

And now, as I said earlier, we may be considering the legalization of marijuana.

 

It is true that smoking is not good for us, but when did you ever hear of smoking causing anyone to be a loud-mouth jerk, or inflict harm on another person? The answer ... never, but alcohol and drugs are destroying lives and families, taking lives and destroying minds.

 

Something's wrong with this picture. I'm just speaking for good ole Kentucky for now, but to me, this isn't progress. We're regressing, not progressing. Let's consider a few more dominoes.

 

From 1962-1980; prayer, the Bible and the Ten Commandments were removed from the public schools. Corporal punishment is now practically nonexistent. No wonder, generally speaking, our children are little spoiled, self-centered brats.

 

I don't know the exact year for Kentucky, but no fault divorce began in the 70s. Is it any wonder why there are so many divorces and so many folks just shacking up?

 

In the 60s movie ratings began. The things seen and heard at the movies and on television today could gag a maggot. Prior to the 60s we would not worry about decent people and children watching a movie or the television, but today?

 

Of course we can't forget June of 2015 when the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to legalize homosexual marriages. It probably won't be long until the Supremes also force the acceptance of transsexual lifestyles upon every state and commonwealth.

 

The Bible clearly and definitively calls homosexuality a sin.

 

Also, the Bible makes it clear that we are born male or female. We are either one or the other. Science agrees. Males are born with one Y chromosome and one X chromosome. Females are born with two X chromosomes. If you have one Y chromosome and one X chromosome, you are a male. If you have two X chromosomes, you are a female. We are either male or female when we are born. That cannot be debated.

 

Capital punishment, for all practical purposes, is also nearly non-existent. And we wonder why capital crime is through the roof. A mistreated dog can get more justice than an innocent human being.

 

All these brilliant moves (and many I haven't listed) have resulted in a society that has become more and more corrupted, and that is exactly what Satan wants. Man cannot make society better, especially those in the political arena.

 

As can been seen by the dates, these things did not happen overnight, but the more dominoes that fall increases the speed of the remaining dominoes falling. Every year I think, "Surely, we've sunk about as far as we can go," but each year proves me wrong. I shudder to think what our society will look like in a few more years.

 

Our society and even many professing Christians have the mistaken idea that the majority must be right. If most of the people say it's okay, then it must be okay. That isn't what Jesus said, and I'm going with His words.

 

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

 

I suppose based on the world's conclusion of the "majority" is where we also get the misconception that there will be far more people in Heaven than in hell. Again, based on what Jesus said in the Scripture verses above, there will be far fewer people in Heaven than in hell. Let me make it real clear. Most people will leave this earth and spend eternity in hell. Hell will have an overflowing abundance of human beings that stayed on the "broad road to destruction." The only exception that could, maybe, alter this is the millions or billions who will be in Heaven because they were under the age of accountability when they died, or were not mentally competent.

 

I've never been one to follow the majority. The majority is most always a losing cause. Let me give one example. In 1 Kings 18:17-40 we're told about an incident that happened between Elijah and Ahab's prophets. Now keep in mind, there were 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah in the majority, not including Ahab and all the other followers of these false gods. There were two in the minority, Elijah and God. Over 850 to 2! Read the account and see who was right and who was wrong. By the way, what happened to the false prophets?

 

Elijah's secret weapon was God. If we are on God's side, we are always correct in our position with whatever circumstance is at hand. With that said, the Bible assures us that God is not on the side of any of the actions I mentioned earlier that our society has so willingly accepted.

 

While writing this article, a dear sister in Christ wrote to me, informing me of California adopting what is known as the 'bordello' law for long-term care centers. The article is entitled "California adopts 'bordello' plan for long-term care centers" and was posted by Bob Unruh on October 5th, 2017 at the WND website (www.wnd.com). Please take the time to read the article. It is eye-opening to the continued degradation of our society.

 

In part this new California law, which takes effect January 1st, states that males may room with females and share shower facilities with females. Also, employees can be punished criminally via a criminal fine and be imprisoned for up to a year. A care facility can suffer heavy fines and have their license revoked by the Department of Public Health and even be fined up to $150,000 under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act.

 

It will be a criminal offense for any private-care facility to "move or evict a transsexual resident for acting out their transsexual behavior, even if other residents are disturbed by it."

 

The employees will be committing a criminal offense if they do not address the transsexual residents as "he" or "she", no matter their biological sex. They are also required to dress the transsexual resident in women's clothes (or vice versa), including underclothing, cosmetics, etc.

 

This law applies to senior homes, convalescent homes, skilled nursing facilities, the developmentally disabled, pediatric day health and respite care.

 

Surely, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

 

I stand convinced that we are quickly approaching God's judgment. Our hearts have become blackened and our rebellion against God is frightening. As the dominoes fall, true Christians need to take a stand.

 

Satan knows his time is short and he also knows the heart of man. Many dominoes have fallen since the early sixties and even earlier, and they continue to fall. I repeat that all the dominoes have not fallen at once, just one at a time, but now we live in a world that couldn't even be imagined in the forties and fifties. What society accepts as normal today would have caused a nationwide rebellion when I was a child. Isn't it amazing how things can change in just one lifetime, just one domino at a time?

 

The sad conclusion is that for each generation it will continue to get worse and worse, but for each younger generation, it will seem more and more acceptable.

TRIBULATION CHRONICLES, PART 3: WAR, FAMINE, DEATH AND HELL.

By Alice Childs -

n my last letter, I warned you to be aware of any variation on "the lie" that will be put forth to try to explain away the disappearances of what could conceivably be upwards of one billion people worldwide, including pre- and post-born babies, all young children, and all those who are mentally incompetent and unable to comprehend their sin guilt, thus their need of a Savior.

 

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

 

All of us are guilty sinners; however, the people groups who are not held accountable for their sin because of their inability to understand their sin guilt are covered by God's grace, since one must be able to understand one's guilt before a holy God and one's need of a Savior. Only God knows the age of accountability, depending on each individual's understanding; and only He knows those who, for whatever reason, do not have the mental capacity to understand and appreciate the sinful guilt under which we are all born and which infects us all since Adam's rebellion.

 

Only God knows the exact number of those who will have been taken in the rapture, but what you must know is this: all of the taken ones were either among the first group I mentioned; guilty sinners but safe because of their inability to be accountable, or those who are guilty sinners but saved (made justified before God) because they believed in Christ alone for salvation according to the scriptures.

 

Those who are a part of the second group consist of all adults (young and old) and all older children who came to an understanding of sin and salvation - all who had at some prior time placed their belief, their faith and trust in the sinless life, crucified and atoning death, and bodily resurrection of the Son of God - Jesus Christ. Each and every older child and adult taken via the rapture were genuine believers in Christ, and as such were a part of His true Church.

 

There will be many left behind who may have claimed to be part of this or that church or religion, and there will be many so-called "pastors" or other "religious leaders" who will be among the "left-behind ones," but you must know this: all who were left behind, regardless of who they are, were never genuine believers in the first place; for had they been, then they too would have been taken in the rapture when Jesus called to Heaven His Church (both the living believers and those who had died "in Christ") .

 

You have now been made fully aware of these things:

 

(1) WHO has been taken: the safe and the saved - all those whom the Bible describes as being "in Christ" (both the living and the dead who died "in Christ").

 

(2) WHAT has happened: the resurrection of all the "dead in Christ" - believers who have died from Jesus' resurrection up through the day of the rapture, along with all living believers alive and instantaneously changed from mortal to immortal at the instant the rapture occurred.

 

(3) WHERE THE TAKEN ONES ARE NOW: in Heaven in the Father's House with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Now that you understand the truth of who was taken and the why regarding those of you who were not taken, let me move on to explain to you exactly what you need to know regarding that which will now begin to take place for those of you left here on Earth.

 

Again, I repeat, it is no longer your physical life that matters. You will almost certainly not live through these last seven years. That is the plain, unvarnished truth. You need to come to terms with this and accept it. All that matters now is where your immortal soul will spend eternity after the death of your physical body.

 

This last seven years will be divided into two halves of 3 ½ years each. The first 3 ½ years will be horrific. The last 3 ½ years will be unprecedented and will make the first half pale in comparison. The entirety of this seven-year time period is usually referred to as "The Tribulation;" however, the latter half was designated by Jesus Himself as being "GREAT tribulation." In fact, Jesus stated that if He personally did not return to intervene, then no flesh (no living thing) would be left alive. Very sobering words.

 

For now, let's look at the first 3 ½ years of what you, who have been left behind, are going to have to endure, according to God's Word.

 

Keep this truth front and center in your mind and heart, though: Jesus loves you. He shed His blood for you just as He did for all sinners. He wants you to be with Him for all eternity. Even in the midst of His terrible judgment coming upon this wicked world, God is continuing to extend His mercy and grace to you - to all who will come to Him by faith - even during this awful time of the Tribulation.

 

"For God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

 

Everything that is waiting for believers in our eternal Home is beyond our ability to comprehend in our fallen, sinful state. Those of you who become Tribulation believers will receive your new and glorified bodies at the end of these last seven years. Therefore, upon any Tribulation believer's death, his/her spirit will go immediately to Heaven to await their new and glorified, immortal bodies.

 

So, again I tell you, do not fear what will happen to your physical body. It only houses your immortal soul, and God has reserved for you a brand new body just like the ones we of the Church Age, post rapture, now have - an immortal body that will never hunger, never grow old, never tire, and which can never be hurt again.

 

Those of you who become believers during this last seven years are called Tribulation saints. You are the "saints" referred to in chapters 6-19 of Revelation. If you remain faithful "even unto death," all of Heaven awaits you once your soul leaves your body. Be encouraged and remain faithful to Jesus no matter what.

 

What is coming upon Earth is this: There will arise from somewhere within the confines of what was once the Old Roman Empire, a man of unusual charisma, superb military cunning, and unequaled, political brilliance. This man will come via peaceful means (or what will appear to be peaceful means). Most likely, this man will appear on the scene after two events that I will mention only in passing here, but will detail in a later chronicle. These two precursor events to this man's appearance on the global scene will be:

 

(1) the complete, overnight destruction of the city of Damascus (Isaiah 17).

 

(2) the invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations led by Russia (named Magog in the Bible), Iran (called Persia in the Bible), and Turkey (called Togarmah in the Bible) along with a few other countries such as Libya (Put) and Sudan.

 

You can read about this invasion in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, chapters 38-39. This invasion will most likely not be WWIII, but will eventually trigger what will become WWIII. The main aftermath of this Russian-led invasion will be the utter destruction of the Russian-led coalition, and the rise to power of this new charismatic world leader about whom I will now tell you.

 

As a result of the destruction of this Russo/Iranian/Turkish led invasion of Israel (which God Himself will destroy on the mountains of Israel), this new global leader will "confirm a covenant with many" between Israel and those surrounding her. (See the Old Testament book of Daniel in chapter 9, verse 27).

 

Watch out for this man and for this event. I cannot give you the name of this man because none of us on this side of the rapture know who he will be. You, however, will be able to identify him because it will be he who will "confirm" a covenant between Israel and many others. His brokered arrangement will allow Israel to rebuild her Temple on its ancient site. The man who accomplishes these things will be the Antichrist.

 

His negotiating skills will be astounding and his rhetoric powerful (reminiscent of the oratorical skills of Adolph Hitler, but much more powerful and persuasive). He will use craft and deception to attain his goals. This man will accomplish what no other global leader will have ever been able to do; he will bring peace (or what appears to be) "peace" to the seething cauldron that is the Middle East through this "Peace Initiative."

 

He "confirms this "covenant with "many" for seven years (what the Old Testament book of Daniel chapter 9 calls a "week" of years, ie., seven years). It is the confirmation of this covenant (not the rapture) that will be the event that begins the final seven-year countdown. All events count down from this one event.

 

Either simultaneously, or not long afterward, war will erupt. This war will be a global conflict, and its aftermath will be horrendous. Keep your eyes on Israel, for she is the key to everything that will happen.

 

The conflicts recorded in Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38 will take place very soon, possibly before the rapture occurs, but most probably just after or simultaneously with the rapture. But this I cannot say with certainty.

 

The overarching events taking place during this first half of the last seven years are these:

 

(1) Damascus will be utterly destroyed (Isaiah 17).

 

(2) A Russian/Iranian/Turkish led coalition will invade the land of Israel on the Golan Heights (Ezekiel 38-39).

 

(3) Somewhere around this time, either just before, during, or simultaneously with the destruction of Damascus, Syria and/or the Russian led-invasion of Israel, the rapture will occur (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-17; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; Revelation 3:10 & 4:1).

 

(4) A charismatic leader will arise and will confirm a covenant with Israel. This covenant confirmation will begin the countdown to the last seven years.

 

(5) A global war will begin, WWIII if you want to call it that. It will be massive in scale and devastating in its consequences.

 

(6) In the wake of this global war, famine on a global scale will quickly ensue. No country will be spared.

 

(7) The death toll from this war and its aftermath will be  staggering. Diseases and pestilences will be especially overwhelming: pathogens such as typhus, cholera, along with all manner of both known and new and unknown diseases will run rampant and unchecked. They will be pandemic (global instead of regional) in scope and severity.

 

(8) On the heels of this will be attacks by both wild and domesticated animals who, as a result of the severity of this war and its aftermath, will also be starving. All manner of animals, both wild and domesticated will have lost all fear of man and will attack, both alone and in packs.

 

(9) In addition to all of this, there will be unprecedentedly strong and frequent earthquakes, much stronger than any heretofore experienced. These quakes will occur all over the earth, along with increasing volcanic activity and ensuing tsunamis spawned from them, as the very earth itself is rocked on its foundations with the ferocity of the armed conflicts that most likely will involve nuclear events.

 

(10) Murder and unrestrained violence will become the norm, even as this coldness of heart is beginning now. Unprecedented violence and brutality will be loosed on a global scale never known before. Very little law and order will be left intact anywhere in the world. Love and natural affection among people, including family members, will continue to erode to the point of non-existence.

 

(11) Those who do become believers during this time will be hated, hunted, and executed en masse because of their faith. The overwhelming majority of people left behind will be God-haters, who hate and despise all those who follow Christ. Murder and violence will be exponentially greater than it is right now as I write this pre-rapture.

 

Just how great will the death toll be from war, famine, pandemic diseases, murder, animal attacks, earthquakes, and a world gone mad?

 

The world's population, as I write this pre-rapture, stands at 7.4 billion people (according to the World Population Clock as calculated in August 2016). Estimating conservatively that roughly one billion or so worldwide leave in the rapture, this will leave around six billion people after the Church is gone. One fourth of those will die during the first half of the Tribulation. That equals to 1-1½ billion people. (Read chapter 6 of Revelation up through the 5th "seal judgment," and on to the 2nd of the three "woes." These passages chronicle the 1st half of the Tribulation).

 

This number is merely a drop in the bucket compared to those who will die during the last 3 ½ years.

 

Please, do not make the grave mistake of thinking that you will be safe because you live in America, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or any one of the more modern or "first world" countries. Every single nation on every single continent will be affected by these trans- global catastrophes. It may very well be that America, which was once a God-fearing and blessed nation, will suffer the most loss of life as a judgment for the vast amounts of every conceivable sin that this nation has embraced and eagerly committed in these last days in the sight of Almighty God.

 

Do not think for one second that God will not avenge the blood of the 60 million babies who have been slaughtered within the wombs of their mothers, or the millions of children and mentally handicapped individuals who have been abandoned, neglected, abused, tortured, molested, brainwashed, and thrown aside like garbage; or the myriads of women and children worldwide who have been abducted and sold as sex slaves; or the plethora of sexual perversions including homosexuality, pedophilia, and even bestiality that have been openly embraced flaunted, celebrated, and forced upon society, along with thousands upon thousands of wanton murders, thefts, deceptions, lies, rampant drug abuse, unmitigated narcissism, and the utter and absolute vileness and outright evil that has been flaunted in defiance and contempt in the face of Almighty God and those who belong to Him.

 

I implore you - come to the only one who can save your immortal soul. Place your complete faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. Accept that you are a justly condemned sinner. Believe that Jesus Christ is God come to earth in human flesh; that He lived a perfect, sinless life which qualified Him alone to offer His life up in our place to satisfy God's infinite justice. Believe that Jesus' death on the cross atoned for/paid in full man's sin debt; that He was buried and that He arose bodily from the grave on the third day, so that all who are willing to call upon the name of the Lord might be saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

 

Do this before it is eternally too late. Once your last breath is taken and your last heartbeat is stilled, then your eternal destiny is forever set; and if you should die in your sins, you will spend all eternity in a literal place called the Lake of Fire-forever separated from God in eternal torment. Remember, you do not have to go there. The choice is yours to make.

 

Keep reading. In the next chronicle I will tell you of the importance that tiny Israel and her people, the Jews, will play and of the most dreadful time that is still to come.