Wednesday, November 08, 2006

The Nation Turning Left

While some of the data and my hopes which I felt were also something kin to the Holy Ghost felt that the right would keep the House and Senate, that didn't seem to happen, or at least the House at the time of this writing. God knows best. The nation is turning more to the left and the hour is getting darker but it is time for the Christian's light to shine. "14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
." Matthew 5:14-16
The world can stand in the middle of a political debate, but cannot stand long in the pressence of the Holy Ghost when he is moving on them. This is more hope to us than any one person in government.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

The End Time


There is concern by many regarding the times we are living in, especially relating to the last days, the Mark of the Beast, and how this will fit in with our nation.  While I do not claim to have all the answers, I may be able to provide some, and those are based on Bible study and the basic consensus of more learned men down the ages.  We have to first establish that our findings and opinions must be based on the Bible, God’s word.  It is the only real authority.  Without using the Bible as the sole authority, it will only cause confusion.  “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  

God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to earth first as a man as he took on the form of a servant.  “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”  Philippians 2:5-7.  He took on the form of man and was obedient unto death, the death of the cross so mankind could be freed from sin and certain death and judgment.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  God gave his son that we might have life if we’ll take it as it is written, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10  On his name, and him only can man be saved.  The Apostle Peter said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12  

Now it is apparent that he will come back someday as he said many times when on earth.  “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3  He will come again and there are numerous scriptures regarding this.  The question is, when, and what happens between now and the time he returns.  

There is coming upon the earth a period know as the tribulation period.  It will be a seven year period when Satan will have rull rule on the earth through a world leader.  Prior to that period, it is felt by most that the believers will be taken up with Jesus.  This is referred as the rapture of the church.  Here is an account given by the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18.  “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.   For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”  Those who have Christ in their hearts must be ready for that day.  

After that, the tribulation period starts.  The  Mark of the Beast will happen sometime during the second part of the seven year period.  Daniel 9:27 says the following, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”  While this may seem a little vague, it refers to the last seven years or “week” where the anti-Christ ruler will break his covenant with Israel.  At the end of the seven years, men will become so bold they will think that they can literally fight against Christ in person.  This is referred to the battle of Armageddon.  “Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”  Joel 3:12-14  Christ will judge the nations there.  

He will then reign on the earth for 1,000 years.  Revelation 20:6 says, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”  The remainder of that chapter tells of Satan being released from his prison, or the bottomless pit, at the end of the thousand years.  He will cause a rebellion only to finally earn his place in the lake of fire.  Then all those who are not written in the book of life will be judged and they will join him there.  12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:13-15  Is your name in the book of life?  

So, to sum this up, the Mark of the Beast will probably be given during the middle of the tribulation period.  If you are a blood-bought child of God, believing on Jesus Christ to save you, then you should be out of here before then.  As far as our country is concerned, it is a little more difficult to say.  I can tell you that we, as a nation, are not really the key players in the times of the tribulation so I personally feel that we will not be a world power then.  I also strongly feel that we will be judged as a nation for the sins that we are allowing to run rampant and for the laxness of the church to fight them.  We were once a Christian nation but no more!  While we have a God-fearing president, soon that will all change and our nation will be enveloped into darkness, with a darker government and one that Gid will no doubt use to pour out his wrath on.  Ifamily:Arial;">
Why do people hate George Bush?  Is it the wor in Iraq?  That’s only the surface reason.  The root cause of their intense hatred of the man is that he stands for some Bible-based values and claims to be a Christian.  While I can say that he has not done everything right, what president has.  However, he has stayed the course and not backed down to defend Israel, not backed down on his Christian beliefs and has not been dazed by public opinion, either when it was high or low.  For this, God will honor him and keep the powers that be until he is finished.  

This only scratches the surface regarding the topics mentioned above and much more detail should be given on each however this blog is long enough.  I try to keep these fairly short so people don’t get weary reading them.  As always, if you have questions or comments, email me at rapurdy@cox.net.