Words justify or condemn you - this is truth!

Mat 12:37  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.



Jesus' words.



Jesus only speaks truthfully.  So when He says- 'By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned', does He really mean it?



Mat_15:11  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.



Mat_15:18  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.



How many times have you said something only to regret it the moment it was out of your mouth?  Yet to say you didn't mean it would be a lie, wouldn't it? A better apology would be sorry for whatever it was you said. When it comes out of our mouth, we mean it. We might regret it but we wouldn't have said it if we weren't thinking it and we wouldn't be thinking it if we weren't feeling it, believing it? Right?



Seriously.  We say a lot of things we wish we could unsay. We regret letting things come out of our mouths. We'd rather keep them as thoughts left unspoken because they are hurtful. 



I'm going to get a bit personal here for a moment, if it's too personal then uhm...close your eyes and skip ahead? Hey, it was a thought.



I suffer from PMS.  I'm sure almost everyone has heard of this. It's been the stuff of jokes for a long time. However, it is a very serious thing. I never thought it was real, until after the birth of my first child. Then suddenly this crazy thing was happening to me out of nowhere. I couldn't understand it. I would feel this fury inside of me, this pent up anger over absolutely nothing. The sensation is awful, to feel this thing without rhyme nor reason was in itself infuriating. I could feel this living, breathing monster inside of me and I had very little, if any control over it.  I'd snap at everyone as a result of this monster in me and yes, I'd regret it later, truthfully, I'd often regret it even as the words were streaming out of my mouth but the control switch was broken. I couldn't turn it off! I was at the mercy of my hormones. 



Now that you know that bit about me (even though I've probably mentioned it before), I have another thing to add. The PMS monster in me has been changing lately, why? Because of the change of life, the dreaded menopause. I've felt that the PMS monster has morphed into super menopause monster who has NO timetable! The PMS monster at least had a timetable. I could expect it monthly for up to a week but no longer, sometimes only for a day or two then it would disappear, don't ask me why. This menopause monster however has decided to stick to NO timetable and is liable to pop up out of the blue at any moment. I'm not lying! I'm being very, very serious! This is a horrible thing to deal with because I truly feel it is out of my control.



I know there are medicines etc out there and I'm going to try the natural remedies route, but the point I'm going to make by telling this is- out of my mouth goes HORRIBLE THINGS and while I have a VERY real thing to blame it on, I'm not sure that our Savior is going to listen to excuses. 



Mat_12:34  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.



Luk_6:45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.



Do you see what I'm getting at?



Mat 12:37  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.



There is a SUPER importance to the words we speak! We talk so casually. We speak so nonchalantly. We claim it as our right to speak and say whatever we want to.  More and more children are brought up believing they can say whatever they want and it shows in the disrespect that is rampant in our young people today.  Just fifty years ago a child wouldn't dream of sassing his or her parents without expecting a swift and decided punishment. Yet today we speak and speak and speak as if none of our words have an eternal weight resting upon them, when the truth is EVERY SINGLE WORD has eternal weight.



Think about that for a moment, just a few moments really think about the implications of Jesus' words.



For by thy words---- thou shalt be justified.

By thy words---- thou shalt be condemned.



Every IDLE word we will have to give account of.



Mat 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.



IDLE words.  What are idle words?



Careless words, lazy words, every word, these can be idle words. Do you imagine you can speak all day long just a bunch of idle words, words that have no substance at all?  You might not want to answer yes to that because it would really be putting yourself down, wouldn't it? To imagine that you spoke all day of useless chitchat. You want to believe that all the idle words have somehow got weight to them, even if that idle word caused laughter, that was something wasn't it? 



We do NOT want to believe we have to really give account for every word we speak.  I shudder at the thought knowing how many hateful things I've spoken especially when I haven't felt in control of my own self during my "monster" moments.



Every word.



Will your words justify you, or will your words condemn you?



Do we really place any importance on these words of our Savior? If we don't, we are going to be accountable for that too, aren't we?



It's at times like these a lot of people just want to throw their hands in the air and give up on being a Christ follower because it's too darn hard, it's too much, it's too impossible.  Well guess what? It's supposed to be impossible for us to accomplish on our own. It is. We have to yield ourselves to CHRIST, to the Holy Spirit living in us.  Even me with my "monster" problem, I have to yield myself to the Holy Spirit. My God is greater than anything in this world, even my "monster" problem which is very real, very physically comprehended. I could use my "monster" as an excuse but that would be wrong, I'd be lying to myself if I said I can't help it, just as others with mental, emotional, and physical issues that cause them to speak out would be lying to themselves.  Tourette's syndrome comes to mind as something someone might throw up there instantly, and sure, that's real and it has it's roots in something that a person can't control. I'm POSITIVE that our SAVIOR knows what is truly uncontrollable and what isn't and whether a person is yielding to Him or not.  Is this the excuse I'm looking for? Not really. I know after I speak rashly I've done wrong and I know I need to seek forgiveness for it and this is a never ending cycle of seeking forgiveness, because I REFUSE to give up and give into Satan who wants nothing more than for me and everyone else to give into despair of ever being right with God.



Whether it's PMS or the Meno Monster, or a more serious condition like Tourette's, or maybe it's an autistic issue, the wiring in our brains has become scrambled- whatever it is- if we can feel guilt over our mouth speaking awful things, then we need to seek forgiveness, not excuse it. Yes, the excuse might be real, but it doesn't matter. It's the KNOWLEDGE beyond the reason that things that have come out of our mouths have hurt others, or things that have come out of our mouths have condemned us. As soon as we have that knowledge we need to repent. We might need to repent daily, hourly, minutely but with knowledge comes accountability.



We are accountable for our words.



We have to STOP making excuses and accept the accountability.



Our words matter in the eternal scheme of things, they truly do.



We need to do a lot more THINKING before we speak.



Some might advocate just saying whatever you feel like saying so you don't bottle up emotions, but those same advocates are not probably thinking about the words of our Savior. If we can keep from speaking idle words, from harsh words, from harmful words we should.  Having the thoughts will be bad enough but at least as thoughts no other person around us is harmed or influenced. Yes, we'll still need to seek forgiveness for our thoughts if they are uncharitable and such, we can't escape truth whether in our thoughts or in our deeds.



Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath



Swift to hear…….. SLOW TO SPEAK. 



How many men are supposed to be swift to hear and slow to speak?



EVERY MAN!



By the grace of God may we heed the words of our SAVIOR!



We will have to give account of all our words… maybe we'd do well to try and remember this every morning when we wake up and go about our day.



Our words matter, they eternally matter.



Please LORD, keep the door to our lips! Please LORD, keep us from idle words! Please LORD, help us to surrender to You our every word! Guide us and keep us in You through the Holy Spirit!



Thank you Father for all Your love!



By Your grace, mercy, and amazing love! In YOUR righteousness always!

Don't be a spoon fed Christ follower! 2 Timothy 2:15

"Well would it be for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast souls (early Christians) were revived in the hearts of God's professed people.

There is an alarming indifference in regard to the doctrines which are the pillars of the Christian faith.

The opinion is gaining ground that, after all, these are not of vital importance.

This degeneracy is strengthening the hands of the agents of Satan, so that false theories and fatal delusions which the faithful in ages past imperiled their lives to resist and expose, are now regarded with favor by thousands who claim to be followers of Christ." - The Great Controversy, p. 46

(((TRUTH))))

"Satan has wrought with deceiving power, bringing in a multiplicity of errors that obscure the truth.

Error cannot stand alone, and would soon become extinct if it did not fasten itself like a parasite upon the tree of truth.

Error draws its life from the truth of God.

The traditions of men, like floating germs, attach themselves to the truth of God, and men regard them as a part of the truth.

Through false doctrines, Satan gains a foothold, and captivates the minds of men, causing them to hold theories that have no foundation in truth.

Men boldly teach for doctrines the commandments of men; and as traditions pass on from age to age, they acquire a power over the human mind.

But age does not make error truth, neither does its burdensome weight cause the plant of truth to become a parasite.

The tree of truth bears its own genuine fruit, showing its true origin and nature.

The parasite of error also bears it own fruit, and makes manifest that its character is diverse from the plant of heavenly origin." - R&H, October 22, 1895

*******

Christ's words-  Mat_15:9  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Tit 1:13  This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Tit 1:14  Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
Tit 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Tit 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Luk_21:8  And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

1Co 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Rev_19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

*******

Miracles will be wrought before us in the last days. MIRACLES that come from SATAN! Miracles that will DECEIVE!

The ONLY hope any of us have is in the TRUTH! Being grounded solely in the TRUTH of GOD. If we allow ourselves to believe any traditions of men over the truth of God we will be lost!

We have to STUDY.  We can't just sit down and be fed from the pulpit spoon and say it is enough. We can't know beyond any doubt that the one wielding the spoon isn't filling it up with their own truth. Their own deceptions however well intentioned could be a mixture of old fashioned untruths that have all the appearance of being truth.  The only way we can be sure we are being fed truth is by studying for ourselves!

2Ti_2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Not, listen to what others tell you and believe them, but STUDY to show thyself approved unto God!

If we know God's word tells us that many will be deceived then we HAVE to study for ourselves and not take anyone's word as truth!

Traditions of men.  Just how important is it to realize what might be tradition rather than truth? What concepts are you following just because the majority of people believe and follow them?  Don't you remember?! BROAD is the way!  The majority are going to be following the deceptions, following traditions of men! The majority are going to be DECEIVED and there isn't anything anyone can do about it but PRAY they aren't among them!

Our Savior would not tell us that His way is narrow and hard to find if it weren't TRUTH!

So why don't we believe HIM?! Why don't we take a look at all our beliefs and hold them up to the BIBLE and it's truth?!  Why don't we take more than a superficial look into the word of God?! Why aren't we DIGGING into the truth as if it were a hidden treasure?!

Who is feeding you God's word? Is it God, Himself or another?  Are you trusting in man to give you the truth just because they are charismatic and have the appearance of being a good Christian, a devoted Christ follower? In this late hour we cannot afford to be spoon fed, we need to feed from the Word of God directly!

Please LORD help us! Satan would deceive us! We don't want to be among those deceived! We don't want to be among those who believe the error laced truth! We don't want to be among those drinking the sweet poisoned kool-aid only to end up spiritually dead to You! Please LORD save us as the end times are upon us. Soon probation will be up and we would be with YOU, knowing You and known by You!

All by Your grace! Your love! Your mercy! Your righteousness!

'God's love for man means the cross...' Cost of Discipleship Pt 124

Chapter 25 - The Decision

Bonhoeffer- 'The power which men enjoy for a brief space on earth is not without the cognizance and the will of God. If we fall into the hands of men, and meet suffering and death from their violence, we are none the less certain that everything comes from God. The same God who sees no sparrow fall to the ground without his knowledge and will, allows nothing to happen except it be good and profitable for his children and cause for which they stand. We are in God's hands. Therefore, "Fear not."

The time is short. Eternity is long. It is the time of decision. Those who are true to the word and confession on earth will find Jesus Christ standing by their side in the hour of judgment. He will acknowledge them and come to their aid when the accuser demands his rights. All the world will be called to witness as Jesus pronounces our name before his heavenly Father. If we have been true to Jesus in this life, he will be true to us in eternity. But if we have been ashamed of our Lord and his name, he will likewise be ashamed of us and deny us.

The final decision must be made while we are still on earth. The peace of Jesus is the cross. But the cross is the sword God wields on earth. It creates division. The son against the father, the daughter against her mother, the member of the house against the head-- all this will happen in the name of God's kingdom and his peace. That is the work which Christ performs on earth. It is hardly surprising that the harbinger of God's love has been accused of hatred of the human race. Who has a right to speak thus of love for father and mother, for son and daughter, but the destroyer of all human life on the one hand, or the Creator of a new life on the other? Who dare lay such an exclusive claim to man's love and devotion, but the enemy of mankind on the one hand, and the Savior of mankind on the other? Who but the devil, or Christ, the Prince of Peace, will carry the sword into men's houses? God's love for man is altogether different from the love of men for their own flesh and blood. God's love for man means the cross and the way of discipleship. But that cross and that way are both life and resurrection. "He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." In this promise we hear the voice of him who holds the keys of death, the Son of God, who goes to the cross and resurrection, and with him takes his own."

*******

My thoughts-

'God's love for man means the cross and the way of discipleship.'

Do we believe?

Mar_8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Do we believe?

Do you have a cross?

Do you deny yourself?

We are told to take up our cross if we want to follow our Savior.

We cannot follow our Savior without taking up our cross, it is impossible. And in order to take up our cross, we have to deny ourselves.

Luk 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luk 14:33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Rom 15:1  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Rom 15:2  Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Rom 15:3  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

What, but our ungodliness, and worldly lusts; what but our selfishness should be denied? All that is ungodly in us must be denied.  We have to deny ourselves anything that would take the love of God from anyone in any way. We must deny ourselves. 

One of the hardest things we are called to do is deny ourselves, is there any wonder that few will do so?

We don't have a clue how to deny ourselves it is so incredibly foreign to us.

God, please teach us to deny ourselves, we need to learn this from YOU. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us, to help us, to live in us doing for us what we have no idea how to do. The world we live in today is so incredibly messed up with it's modernity. The simple life no longer exists for so many. A life of denying self has been twisted into something used to glorify self, things are so turned upside-down.

Please, Lord, save us from ourselves!

We want to hear you call our name, we want you to know us, we want you to live in us, please Lord help us to find the very narrow way of discipleship, denying ourselves, picking up our cross all to FOLLOW you, please.

Fear no man

Chapter 25 - The Decision

Bonhoeffer- 'They must not fear men. Men can do them no harm, for the power of men ceases with the death of the body. But they must overcome the fear of death with the fear of God. The danger lies not in the judgment of men, but in the judgment of God, not in the death of the body but in the eternal destruction of the body and soul. Those who are still afraid of men have no fear of God, and those who have fear of God have ceased to be afraid of men. All preachers of gospel will do well to recollect this saying daily.'


Mat 10:26  FEAR THEM NOT therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28  And FEAR NOT THEM which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31  FEAR YE NOT therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Mat 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake find it.

Bonhoeffer speaks truthfully because he speaks God's word.

We are taught to fear so much because our focus is on temporal things. We can fear the loss of everything in our lives from the greatest gift we have in sharing the lives of others, or to the smallest gift  whatever that may be, perhaps the pleasure of a tiny flower.  We can fear the loss of so much. Name it, and you can fear the loss of it.  We can fear life itself, and we well know that we can fear death.

Fear.

'WEBSTER Dictionary-

FEAR, n.
1. A painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger. Fear expresses less apprehension than dread, and dread less than terror and fright. The force of this passion, beginning with the most moderate degree, may be thus expressed, fear, dread, terror, fright. Fear is accompanied with a desire to avoid or ward off the expected evil. Fear is an uneasiness of mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us.
Fear is the passion of our nature which excites us to provide for our security, on the approach of evil.

FEAR, v.t.
1. To feel a painful apprehension of some impending evil; to be afraid of; to consider or expect with emotions of alarm or solicitude. We fear the approach of an enemy or of a storm. We have reason to fear the punishment of our sins.'

You know what fear is, we've all felt it, even the staunchest of men who would refuse to admit to it has felt fear. 

Satan wants us filled with fear because as long as we fearful we are NOT trusting in God.

If ALL our hope is in GOD then we can't fear, can we?  Seriously, can we?  If fear then we are not trusting.  It sounds so cut and dried. But we have to fall on our knees before God and beg His help in our weakness, grabbing hold of HIS strength because we have none.

Our fear of God is our reverence, our true fear in the face of knowing He holds all we are in His hands. It is much better to be fearful of God than any other!  This is truth!

Knowing He is our CREATOR, our REDEEMER, how can we truly fear anything man can do to us?

The worst death, the worst torture that another person can inflict upon us cannot separate us from GOD.

Being separate from God is the true source of all our fear, and only when we are secure in Him can we truly stop fearing all but the loss of God- our choosing to move away from Him, our choosing to allow anything to come between us and God- this should be our fear.  Our trust has to be in God to keep us in HIM through the Righteousness of Christ.  Wholly in the righteousness of Christ and not by any righteousness of our own.

Time is running out.

We need to comprehend Daniel 11:45,12:1

We need this comprehension because this is one of the very LAST prophecies before probation for all mankind is up and intercession is over. When Michael stands up, it's finished, those who are unjust will remain unjust and those who are just will remain just.

You see, intercession ends BEFORE Christ returns, not after. The decision to choose Christ as your Savior  isn't something you can make in the last minute when you see Jesus returning, matters will be settled long before then.

People don't want to think about that though, they'd rather simply believe what is, is and they have no control over anything. Or they believe no matter what they'll be saved or God isn't love. Or they believe nothing really matters, and they're good enough anyway. People believe a lot of things but do they believe the way to Christ is truly the NARROW way, and FEW there be that find it?  Jesus said it was, it is truth!

We are given prophecies so we can know the times we live in.  We can look back through history and watch as prophecy unfolded, and know that the future prophecies WILL come to past.  The following prophecy in Daniel 11:45-12:1 as well as Revelation allows us to WATCH, to KNOW when the end of probation is closing in. God would NOT make His end a big secret only few can figure out. God has written it plainly in His word for those who are willing to… Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2Ti_2:15).

If we are NOT willing to study God's word then we are NOT willing to be HIS, not really, not when we have the opportunity to study and choose not to.

This study is very IN DEPTH- it gets right into the linguistics and such of the Biblical language- the Hebrew, the Greek. We have to STUDY this. No, we might not be Biblical scholars but we have the ability to learn from them.

So PLEASE, no matter how 'DRY' and 'BORING', no matter how 'HARD' and 'CONFUSING' it might seem as we study, it is WORTH the time and effort.  The same effort you would put into digging for a buried treasure if someone told you they buried one deep, deep, deep in your back yard. You would dig, and dig, and dig even if it took you months to do so to find that treasure. If we would be willing to physically dig for a hidden treasure (a treasure that is guaranteed to be there) then why do we believe we shouldn't have to expend any mental effort in our studying God's Word? WHY?

Please, by the GRACE of GOD and with a very prayerful heart read the following-

Dan 11:45  And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.  

(Christ's Return)

Rev 22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Rev 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

(Christ's Return)

PLEASE  NOTE-  A LOT has happened since 1990 (23 years ago) when the following study was written- after this study there will be more information added to prove just how close we are to the very end.

Remember read it slowly, study it, digest is, reread it until you gain understanding.  Dig...dig...dig….

1990 Dec -- XXIII -- 12(90)

In Daniel 8, an expressed command is given - "Gabriel make this [Daniel] to understand the vision."

(Dan_8:16 ... Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.)

From this point on to the close of the book (of Daniel), (the angel) Gabriel is in close communication with Daniel.

Daniel had seen in vision a ram, and an he-goat with a notable horn which was broken off.

In its place there arose four horns less prestigious, or in Gabriel's words - "not in his power" - that is, not in the power of the "great horn." (8:22)

Dan 8:20  The RAM which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

Dan 8:21  And the ROUGH GOAT is the king of Grecia: and the GREAT HORN that is between his eyes is the first king.

Dan 8:22  Now that being BROKEN, whereas FOUR stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, BUT NOT IN HIS POWER.

These symbols, Gabriel explains in unequivocal language.

The "ram" is declared to be "the kings of Media and Persia." (8:20)

The he-goat represented NOT "the American airforce" but "the king of Grecia"

and the great horn "is the first king" or Alexander the Great. (8:21)

In his place would stand up four kingdoms which were finally reduced to two, and become in Daniel 11, "the king of the north" and "the king of the south."

(My interjection- we know from HISTORY- Alexander the Great -

Alexander III of Macedon (20/21 July 356 – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great ... was a king of Macedon, a state in northern ancient Greece. ...He was undefeated in battle and is considered one of history's most successful commanders.

Pasted from <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great>

And after He died His kingdom was divided into FOUR parts.

'The Empire split into four kingdoms, which would retain their sovereignty in order from least to longest: the Seleucids in Asia Minor and the Middle East, the Antigonids in Macedon (an area partly encompassing Greece), the Attalids in Pergamum (Asia Minor) and the Ptolemys in Egypt.

All four kingdoms were eventually incorporated into the Roman Republic.

Pasted from <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Which_kingdoms_succeeded_the_empire_of_Alexander_the_great_after_his_death>

THIS is history! This is FACT.

Biblical prophecy- FOUR kingdoms would stand up but not in the same power.

Continuing on…)

The other power in Daniel 8 is the "little horn" which waxed "exceeding great." (8:9)

This "little horn" is defined as coming forth "out of one of them" clearly separating the power it symbolizes from being either the "king of the south" or the "king of the north" at any time in history.

(Let's make sure we understand this-  the LITTLE HORN- comes forth OUT OF ONE OF THEM… and is NOT the KING of the SOUTH, NOT the KING of the NORTH.)

To increase our understanding of this factor in the prophecy, we need to consider the phrase, "and out of one of them," from a linguistic viewpoint.

In Hebrew, as well as other languages, nouns have gender, either masculine, feminine, or neuter.

Pronouns referring to these nouns must also have the same gender as the noun.

In Daniel 8:8, the four horns are pictured as extending "toward the four winds of heaven."

Dan 8:8 Dan 8:8  Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great HORN was broken; and for it came up four notable ONES ((((HORNS))) toward the four winds of heaven.

Then in verse 9, comes the phrase - "and out of one of them" - "horns" or "winds"?

Dan 8:9  And out of one of them came forth a little horn...

 In the Hebrew, "horns" is feminine, while "winds" is either feminine or masculine.

 The pronoun, "them," is masculine which would, refer to "winds" rather than to "horns."

 However, the SDA Bible Commentary points out that "this phrase presents confusion of gender." (Vol. 4, p. 840)

While "them" is masculine, the word for "one" is in its feminine form, thus mixing the genders in the same phrase.

So whether out of one of the horns, which can be substantiated by HISTORICAL documentation, or from one of the four winds which fits the directions emphasized through the vision, the final designation is that this "little horn" IS ROME in BOTH its PAGAN and PAPAL phases as distinct from the four horns, and NOT a part of them.

When the pagan phase of Rome is introduced in the prophecy of Daniel 11, it is not designated as either the "king of the south" nor the "king of the north."

Daniel 11:19-21 is recognized as describing emperors of Rome, Julius Ceasar through Tiberius, none of which are symbolized as a king of either the south or the north.

Thus when the papal phase enters the continuum of the prophecy of Daniel 11, it cannot be considered as either of the two kings.

With this factor clearly in mind, the "he" which did "stand in the glorious land" (Palestine and not America" fulfilling Daniel 11:16, Will be the SAME "he" which shall "enter into the glorious land" as noted in Daniel 11:41, and will be the "he" which "shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain" of Daniel 11:45 - only that the latter "he" will be the second or PAPAL phase of the "little horn" of Daniel 8, or "the king" of Daniel 11:36.

We have given all too little thought or attention to papal thinking in regard to the Middle East

and Jerusalem.

Even though progress has been made in recent years improving relations between the Roman Catholic church and the Jews, the Vatican has not to this day offered to extend diplomatic recognition to Israel. This reluctance to do so disturbs and baffles Jewish leaders. "Documents issued by the Catholic church acknowledge the religious significance of Israel, but professor and Nobel laureate Elie Weisel stresses that it is of 'absolute importance to the Jewish people' that Israel be acknowledged politically as well." (National & International Religion Report, Oct. 22, 1990, p. 2) While no explanation has been given by the Vatican as to why they have not recognized the State of Israel, some observers suggest that the Roman Catholic church cannot politically afford to offend its Arab membership in the Middle East. It should also be noted in passing that President Bush's White House chief of staff, Sununu, has religious roots stemming from one of the Uniate or Eastern Rites of the Roman Catholic church.

The objectives of Papal Rome call for the internationalization of Jerusalem. On June 30, 1980, the Holy See lodged with the Security Council of the United Nations, a letter published the same date In the L'Osservatore Romano which set forth "the position of the Holy See concerning Jerusalem and all the holy places." This became Security Council document S/14032. In this document, a resolution on Palestine approved by the UN, Nov. 29, 1947, is noted along with a "special statute" for the city of Jerusalem drawn up by the Trusteeship Council, April 14, 1950 in harmony with the resolution of the UN. It calls for a "corpus separatum" for "Jerusalem and the surrounding area" administered by the Trusteeship Council of the UN. This is the Vatican position. It is totally at cross purposes with the perspective and the law of the State of Israel.

John Paul II clearly outlined the Papal view and significance of Jerusalem in an Apostolic Letter published in L'Osservatore Romano, April 30, 1984. He wrote:     Before it was the city of Jesus the Redeemer, Jerusalem was the historic site of the biblical revelation of God, the meeting place, as it were, of heaven and earth, in which more than in any other place the word of God was brought to men. ...

Indeed, in so far as she [Jerusalem] is the homeland of the hearts of all the spiritual descendants of Abraham who hold her very dear, and the place where, according to faith, the created things of earth encounter the infinite transcendence of God, Jerusalem stands out as a symbol of the coming together, or union, and of universal peace or the human family. ...

I think of and long for the day on which we shall all be so "taught of God" (Jn 6:45) that we shall listen to his message of peace and reconciliation. I think of the day on which Jews, Christians and Muslims will greet each other in the city of Jerusalem with the same greeting of peace with which Christ greeted the disciples after the resurrection: "Peace be with you" (Jn 20:19). ...

This peace proclaimed by Jesus Christ in the name of the Father who is in heaven thus makes Jerusalem the living sign of the great ideal of unity, of brotherhood and of agreement among peoples according to the illuminating words of the Book of Isaiah: "Many peoples shall come and say: 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths"' (Is 2:3).

Consider, whom does the Bible indicate will be the prime earthly force in the final events of human history? Who was the one who drew back the iron curtain which had separated Europe for decades? What is this power's objectives for Jerusalem? Read the above paragraphs from the Pope's Apostolic Letter once again. Note that he is basing his objectives on the prophecy of Isaiah 2:3. Open your Bible and read all of the verses of the context verses 2-6. When are these verses to be fulfilled? - "IT SHALL COME TO PASSIN THE LAST DAYS."

Observe, the Pope looks for a time when mankind shall once again be taught of God, and perceives Jerusalem as the place where the word of God was brought to man - "where the created things of earth encounter the infinite transcendence of God." Now read the last part of verse 3 what he envisions will happen again "for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." - Ask yourself, what kind of a law, and what word would go forth should he and the one whom he represents be the "movers"? And they will be!

God plans to have a city of peace as the center of the whole united earth for "the spiritual descendants of Abraham." It is called the NEW JERUSALEM. Now note again what is the pope's objective for, "all the spiritual descendants of Abraham." Herein is the tale of "two cities" as amplified in the book of Revelation, but God calls the "Jerusalem" promoted by the "beast" who carries the woman, "Babylon the great." (See Rev. 17:2-5) Instead of so much prophetic speculation with "junk bond" interpretations, we need to know the prophetic word and watch as the scroll unrolls. And it is now unrolling!

(WWN 12/90)

*******

Now PLEASE note the following that has taken place since 1990- and tell me there isn't a connection, that we shouldn't be watching, that nothing is happening concerning the Vatican and Jerusalem.

1993

Foreign Relations -- Vatican

Vatican, Israel Agree to Full Ties : Religion: The historic accord will be signed today, ushering in a new alliance between Christians and Jews. Ambassador exchange and papal visit are expected soon.

December 30, 1993|WILLIAM D. MONTALBANO | TIMES STAFF WRITER

Pasted from <http://articles.latimes.com/1993-12-30/news/mn-6872_1_papal-visit>

*

In December 1993, the Vatican and Israel signed a diplomatic treaty; they exchanged ambassadors a few months later. The Vatican-Israel agreement normalized relations between the two nations, furthered a Jewish-Catholic dialogue already under way, and helped establish a path for regularizing the church's legal status in Israel. "On the whole, it's a pretty promising relationship," says Cohen, noting that it isn't always without tensions. Overall, the Vatican's relationship with Israel is based on international law, not theology, says Massa.

PROPERTY REMAINS AN ISSUE . The 1993 accord has yet to be ratified by Israel's Knesset and the legal status of church properties and communities in Israel are still under negotiation. Massa says the Vatican is disappointed with the unresolved economic issues and lack of ratification. The church has extensive properties in Israel. When the region was controlled by the Ottoman Empire and later the League of Nations, those properties enjoyed a special legal and tax status--which became unclear once the state of Israel was created. In a paper on the first five years of the accord, Rabbi David Rosen, director of the American Jewish Committee's Department for Interreligious Affairs, says normalizing the legal standing of church personnel and institutions are complex matters (WordDoc). "The Holy See would have liked to have been considered as an extra territorial entity, enjoying the same privileges granted to foreign delegations and their properties," Rosen contends. "Aside from the principle, to have done so for the Catholic community without doing so for other Christian denominations would have posed substantial difficulties for Israel."

Pasted from <http://www.cfr.org/holy-seevatican/vatican-israel-relations/p19344>

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PLEASE NOTE THE DATE for the following!!!!!!!    JULY 2013!   THIS YEAR, THIS MONTH!

Israel and Vatican close to signing Holy Land accord

Palestine and Jordan fear deal on East Jerusalem sites will cross “red lines”

By Lauren Gelfond Feldinger. News, Issue 248, July-August 2013

Published online: 08 July 2013

After two decades of talks, Israeli and Vatican officials are closer than they have ever been to reaching agreement over a number of disputed Holy Land sites, including the room in which Christians believe the Last Supper took place.

Historically, relations between Israel and the Vatican were strained: the Vatican did not drop the charge that the Jewish people were responsible for killing Jesus until 1965, while the actions of Pope Pius XII during the Nazi era remain controversial. The Vatican, meanwhile, has had concerns about Israel overseeing Catholic sites. Official diplomatic relations were not established until 1994. Tensions over the status of a number of historic holy sites are ongoing, because of contested sovereignty issues or because of the competing claims of different religious groups.

After a meeting in June, Zion Evrony, Israel’s ambassador to the Holy See, told The Art Newspaper that a final agreement was now possible within months. “I know that some will be skeptical and say ‘we have heard this before’, but this time, I believe we are closer to the finish line and there is a good reason for optimism,” Evrony said. 

The Israeli ambassador and Catholic officials in Israel would not give details, but a draft agreement outlines tax exemptions at non-commercial holy sites and gives more rights to the Vatican at key sites of Catholic interest in Jerusalem and Caesarea.

The most controversial site in the draft agreement is Jerusalem’s Cenacle compound, which is important to Christians, Jews and Muslims. According to Masha Halevi of Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, Christians venerate the space upstairs in the Cenacle, where the Last Supper is believed to have taken place, while Jews consider it a 13th-century holy site marking King David’s tomb. Muslims consider it the Prophet David’s burial site and it has been Waqf (Islamic Trust) property since 1551.

To add to the complexity, the site is on Mount Zion. While Israel considers this its territory, others consider it a disputed no-man’s land arising from the period 1948 to 1967, or Occupied Arab East Jerusalem. Palestine and Jordan believe the area is subject to international, not Israeli, law.

The Art Newspaper was told that Israel and the Vatican have resolved “99 per cent” of the outstanding issues, but the Vatican is worried about a Palestinian backlash, says an Israeli source involved in the negotiations.

The Vatican has long taken the position that it will not discuss sites in East Jerusalem, or the West Bank, with Israel. However, “if the agreement recognises church institutions in East Jerusalem, then there is a sense of de facto recognition [of Israeli sovereignty],” the source says. The Franciscan Custodian of the Holy Land in Jerusalem declined to answer questions.

Any deal may also prove controversial in Jordan, which considers itself a guardian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. In March, Palestine signed an agreement with Jordan, re-emphasising Jordan’s responsibilities. After a Vatican-Israeli meeting in January, a Jordanian official issued a statement saying that Jordan would reject any agreement between the Holy See and Israel that led to “action” at Jerusalem’s holy sites.

A senior Palestinian official says that Jordan and Palestine are calling on the Vatican “to abide by international law and article four of the Geneva Convention, which considers East Jerusalem occupied territory, until both sides reach a final status agreement on issues of Jerusalem”.

Israeli and Vatican officials are negotiating over Waqf properties, he says. “As Palestinians, we don’t interfere in internal Israeli affairs or negotiations, but we do care when it comes to East Jerusalem [and] international law and conventions. We are positive that the Holy See is aware of the red lines… but we are worried that mistakes could be made.”

A potential Pandora’s box

The sovereignty of the Cenacle site has long been debated. The Muslim Dajani-Daoudi family of Jerusalem, which holds a document from the Ottoman Sultan in 1529 granting them guardianship over the site and rites to the land as their family burial plot, considers the site to be Waqf property, as do Palestine and Jordan. The Franciscan Catholics argue that they were the guardians of the site before the Ottoman era; Jews consider it part of Second Temple period Jerusalem.

Today, an Orthodox Jewish school is housed on the ground floor, and the Last Supper Room upstairs is a tourist site. Israel allows mass twice a year and for rare special occasions. A Palestinian source says that the new agreement would grant Franciscans two hours of daily prayer time at the Cenacle, and administrative rights, without granting ownership. He also says that rites at the Garden of Gethsemane were listed in the draft agreement.

The Israeli source says that, in addition to a Palestinian backlash, an agreement could potentially open “a Pandora’s box” by creating a precedent for other Christian communities to claim properties or benefits at the holy sites that Israel claims sovereignty over.

“I believe that the problems that remain can be resolved,” Zion Evrony said. “Once this agreement is signed, I believe it will remedy a hurdle that may have prevented the upgrading of relations between Israel and the Holy See. A future visit by the Pope [could also]… strengthen our relations.” He did not discuss Palestinian concerns.

Pasted from <http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Israel-and-Vatican-close-to-signing-Holy-Land-accord/30073>

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We cannot CLOSE our eyes to the nearness of CHRIST'S RETURN!  We cannot CLOSE our eyes to the nearness of the CLOSE of probation for all mankind!  Wait, what am I saying? We can close our eyes to it but if we do we will be eternally lost!

We are being WARNED!

We are being SHOWN!

We have been given prophetic signs!

Will we HEED THEM? Will we?!

Or will we continue to hide our heads in the sand pretending nothing is really going on?  Do we really believe we will be LESS accountable because we are hiding? No, in fact, we will be more accountable for choosing to hide!

This is God's TRUTH!

This is HIS WORD!

I didn't make the prophecies up, I didn't make history up, I didn't make the plan of Salvation.  If you believe in GOD, if you believe in JESUS CHRIST then you must believe in their HOLY WORD to us and live it!

Tomorrow we will once again continue on with Bonhoeffer's, Cost of Discipleship, but this needed to be said because of what He's speaking of concerning us as workers for Christ.

Time is RUNNING OUT!

We have to note the times we live in and as workers for Christ we must give the message for the times we are in.

Please Lord, help us!

Give us ONLY Your truth!

We do not ever want to be deceived!

Please open our hearts and minds to Your WORD.

Guide us!

Love us!

Forgive us!

Save us!

Prophecy Luke 21:24

Luk 21:24  ...and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 

 Luke 21:24 -- "Jerusalem shall be trodden of the Gentiles (nations - eqnwn0), until the times of the Gentiles (nations eqnwn0) be fulfilled."

WWN 2006-

'Few today would deny the precision of this prophecy. The destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies in AD 70 is a historical fact commemorated on the triumphal arch of Titus in Rome. The dispersion of the Jews among all nations is still a reality. As for Jerusalem, nineteen centuries of history should provide adequate proof that it has been "trodden down of the Gentiles" - first by the Romans, then by the Arabs, next by different Christian nations during the Crusades, fourth by the Turks up to the end of the first world war, then by the British, and finally by the Jordanians until the Six-Day War in June, 1967.

This prophecy of Jesus was a sign for the Christians of the Apostolic Church, who lived at the beginning of the times of the Gentiles, and it remains a sign for us who live at the end of the times of the Gentiles. Again, we must know how to discern its meaning.

It is not a matter of our seeing in the return of the Jews to Palestine and in Israeli conquest of Jerusalem a sign of the approaching conversion of the Jews, as so many Christians think. Nothing in Jesus' prophecy allows such an interpretation. However, if we cannot see that Jerusalem is an exceptional sign of the times, then might we not be placing ourselves in the same position as the religious leaders who knew how to "discern the face of the sky" but could not discern the obvious "sign of the times"?

In order to understand Jesus' statement, three questions need answering.

First, exactly what does the expression "the times of the Gentiles" mean?
Then, what should be understood by the fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles?
Finally, what connection is there between the retaking of Jerusalem by the Jews and the fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles?

As I understand the Biblical language, the times of the Gentiles is the period set aside by God for the evangelization of the heathen nations.

It is not the time needed for them to be converted to Christianity, as some think, but for them to hear the gospel. It is in this sense that Jesus said:

"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14).

I believe that the times of the Gentiles began in AD 34 when the prophetic seventy weeks that God set aside for the people of Israel ended. The baptism of the first "heathen" - the Ethiopian eunuch and the centurion Cornelius - as well as the conversion of Paul as an apostle to the Gentiles mark the beginning of these new times. And if I have understood the prediction of Jesus properly, this time will be "fulfilled" when Jerusalem will cease to "be trodden of the Gentiles." The fact that since 1967 Gentiles no longer have occupied Jerusalem means, therefore, that we are now living at the end of "the times of the Gentiles."

Jerusalem here constitutes the last sign by which the Lord shows us that the history of this world is coming to its climax and that the restoration of all things is at hand. And should God tarry once more in the fulfillment of His promise, we should understand that He "is longsuffering, ... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9) (Christ of the Revelation, pp. 71-72).

Texts to consider with Luke 21:24:

Daniel 11:45 - "He shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas (Dead, Galilee, and the Great) in the glorious holy mountain."

Revelation 16:16 - "They gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Har-Mo'ed (Mount of the Congregation).

Isaiah 14:13 - "For thou hast said in thine heart, ... I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation (Har-Moled), in the sides of the north" (See also Ps. 48:2).

Psa 48:2  Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

WWN 2006 May'

My thoughts-

Yesterday we read in the book - The Cost of Discipleship  by Dietrich Bonhoeffer -  a bit about the gospel work to be done. How the workers for Christ are to spread the gospel to the gentiles and the end could not come until the message was preached to all. 

It is true that we are forever to be witnesses of our Savior and the Gospel of the Kingdom, but it is equally true that a time will arrive where the focus on the imminent end must occur. Why else would we be given such prophecies as this-

 Luke 21:24 -- "Jerusalem shall be trodden of the Gentiles (nations - eqnwn0), until the times of the Gentiles (nations eqnwn0) be fulfilled."

If the time would not be fulfilled?

And this --

"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14).

If that end would not come?

THEN SHALL-  then it will -  there is STILL a period of time implied.  If something shall come, if something is going to be fulfilled then it will happen, not necessarily INSTANTANEOUSLY. It WILL happen without a doubt, but it is a process of time.

So what happens if we conclude that the time for concentrating on preaching the gospel of the kingdom in all the world unto all the nations is up?  Do we no longer preach the gospel of the kingdom?  No! We forever preach it where the Holy Spirit convicts us the Word needs to be spoken.

However,  the shift of focus is even more prominently on this-  'Then shall the end come.'

The END shall come.

Yes, throughout time from the moment Jesus predicted His second coming men and women have been waiting eagerly for His return. Each generation desperately desiring it to occur in their time. As they age they keep hoping and hoping and all the signs SEEM to point them towards this hope. Finally they fall into death's sleep with that hope still within them but never to be realized as a being translated. Each generation is allowed this hope, this very real hope but the fact remains and will forever remain until the moment of Christ's return, that there will be one generation that it will come true for, the last generation of those watching, praying, and waiting for the Lord to return for them. They will see Him coming in the clouds in the air, they will be called to Him, they will rise to meet Him in the air as their bodies are changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye.

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52  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.
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

The prophecy in Luke 21:24 and Matthew 24:14 are a call to shift focus why? Because the end of all things is at hand! The wrath of God will be poured out. The just will remain just and the unjust will remain unjust. Probation for mankind is almost up completely and after it is up, then there is going to be a time of trouble such as we've never, ever seen before.

We have to realize that there will come a time when those who are alive will be finally and completely judge for how else will our Savior know who are His and who are not?  The judging will be over.  And what is more important than for people to realize that their TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

Prophetically.
Biblically.
Time is running out.

The time of the nations is over.

What is left is this--

Dan 11:45  And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

At that time shall MICHAEL stand up!
And there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.
And at that time --  thy people -- shall be DELIVERED.

Again we are pointed to where? To Jerusalem! 'The seas in the glorious holy mountain' 

(Dead, Galilee, and the Great) Seas.  

Isa_66:20  And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

'To my holy mountain- Jerusalem'

Right before our Savior returns,  right before He stands up and all is decided for every last person upon earth, we are told to look at this planting of tabernacles of his palace in Jerusalem.  Who is going to do the planting? That is a whole other study of it's own and we shall, by the grace of God, endeavor to undertake tomorrow.

The times of the nations is up, it's over, it's history.  Right now we are living in a short period of time before the very end of all probation.  God would NOT lead us to such a place without letting us know.

Those who have eyes will see, those who have hears will hear, but there will be those who would rather be blind and deaf, unfortunately a lot more will be completely blind and completely deaf to all the warnings because they choose to be so, they don't want to know the truth, they only want lies that placate their conscience.

Please LORD, help us to understand the times we are now living in! Help us to understand! You are warning us! You are telling us what to look for! You are desperately wanting all who would be Yours, to be Yours and not one be left behind, not one.

By Your will, by YOUR grace, through Your love and Your righteousness, our hope is all in YOU!

Bless us Lord, bless us with understanding.

In YOUR LOVE ALWAYS!

Thank you, Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR, now and forever!

Eternal Gospel Proclaimed - Cost of Discipleship Pt 122

Chapter 25 - The Decision

Mat 10:26  FEAR THEM NOT therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28  And FEAR NOT THEM which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31  FEAR YE NOT therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Mat 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.


Bonhoeffer- ' The messengers abide by the Word, and the Word abides by the messengers, now and in all eternity. Three times Jesus encourages his disciples by saying "Fear not." Although their sufferings are not secret, they will not always be so: some day they will be made manifest before God and man. However secret these sufferings are at present, they have their Lord's promise that they will be eventually brought to the light of day. And that will mean glory for the messengers and judgment for their persecutors. Nor is the testimony of the messengers intended always to remain in obscurity. The gospel is not to take the form of hole-in-the corner sectarianism, it must be set forth by public preaching. For the time being it may have to be delivered secretly, but in the last day this preaching will fill the whole world spelling salvation and rejection. The Revelation of St. John contains this prediction: "And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people." ( Rev. 14:6) Therefore "Fear not."

My thoughts-

Truthfully the everlasting gospel HAS been preached to them that dwell on the earth. There are very few, if any, places that haven't had the opportunity to know the Word of God. We live in a time right now that Bonhoeffer probably couldn't even imagine.  Our internet, our means of transportation, all of this has given the word of God great ability to go everywhere and anywhere. People go to all corners of the earth, leaving very little unseen, unknown.

Yet, even in Bonhoeffer's time it was all unfolding, the gospel was being preached and the time of it was quickly nearing it's fulfillment.

Read this-

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 

The word nations is the same word translated gentiles in this verse-

Luk 21:24  And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

The times of the gentiles will be fulfilled, that time of fulfillment is a prophecy give by Jesus Himself. And believe it or not, that prophecy has met its fulfillment

In 1980 the Jewish people were once more in control of Jerusalem and moved their Capital there.  They fought a war and won in 1948, and another in 1967, to shockingly gain control of Jerusalem.  After hundreds of years, after  1900 years they were in control of Jerusalem and NO ONE thought it was possible. No one thought it would happen.  Our Savior KNEW it would happen. Our Savior prophesized of it occurring. People say that we don't live in a time when prophecy is fulfilled but I was alive in 1967 and 1980, I'm living as prophecy is fulfilled. 

There are indepth studies on this particular prophecy and I've gone through them in my Bible Study blog before, but perhaps it's time to do so again.

By the GRACE and MERCY of our LORD we will study this prophecy more in depth because what Bonhoeffer is saying here does affect us today, but we have to consider the times when things are written and pray for guidance as to time and place of all God's word.

We are living in a time right now that is right on the verge of our Lord finishing His work on our behalf, we need to understand this, and believe this.

Too many want to say that everyone says this and it never happens, but if you have faith in God, faith in the Lord, our Savior JESUS CHRIST then YOU have to believe all that He tells us will come to pass. Someone will be living in the last days, someone will be alive to witness His return, someone will be enduring the horrors of the end times, it WILL all come to pass. We cannot say we believe and shirk the TRUTH just because we claim it's impossible to comprehend. Why would our God not enable us to understand? He does, if we truly want all His truth, if we truly want to see, and hear HIS WORD.

Please LORD bless us!
Please LORD keep us in YOU!
Help us to learn YOUR truth and believe in YOUR truth always!